The Net Wagon: By Gifford Beal; Artist's Proof

Description

The Net Wagon is one of several well-known etchings by Gifford Beal (1879-1956) depicting workers on the New England Coast. … more The Net Wagon is one of several well-known etchings by Gifford Beal (1879-1956) depicting workers on the New England Coast. This scene, showing the gathering in of a large fishing net, is compositionally wonderful. The fishermen pushing the wagon, the net being piled in, wagon wheels straining, and the muscled horse pulling in front all contribute to a sense of movement and coordinated activity. The skillfull etching enables the viewer to see details such as the grains of sand, the fishermens' caps, the spokes of the wagon wheels, and the horse's tendons. Beal signs the work on the lower right, and on the lower left, in the border, notes it is “1 of 100 imp” (impressions).

Beal was a painter, teacher, muralist and etcher who studied with William Merritt Chase, won prizes at national and international expositions, and was President of the Arts Students League in New York City from 1914 to 1929. Born in New York City, he traveled in Europe and the US and spend many summers along the coast of Massachusetts, first at Provincetown and later at Rockport Beach. Beal was known for his scenes of everyday life: views of people in Central Park, circus performers, fishermen, and strollers along the East River In Manhattan. He had a long-standing association with the Kraushaar Galleries in New York, where he had his first solo show in 1927.

The Net Wagon is one of several well-known Beal etchings depicting workers on the New England Coast. This scene, showing the gathering in of a large fishing net, is compositionally wonderful. The fishermen pushing the wagon, the net being piled in, wagon wheels straining, and the muscled horse pulling in front all contribute to a sense of movement and coordinated activity. The skillfull etching enables the viewer to see details such as the grains of sand, the fishermens' caps, the spokes of the wagon wheels, and the horse's tendons. Beal signs the work on the lower right, and on the lower left, in the border, notes it is “1 of 100 imp” (impressions).

The etching is in good to excellent condition. It is mounted in an ivory mat - possibly acid-free – and framed. The framing and cardboard backing could be original. On the rear is a Kraushaar Galleries (NYC) label Identifying the work as an Artist’s Proof. As Beal first showed at Kraushaar in 1927, the etching must have been done in the early or mid-1920's.

Dimensions:
Image: Width - 11.5 “; Height - 7.25”
Sheet: Width - 17.75”; Height - 13.5”
Framed: Width - 18.75”; Height - 14.5” less