The Recording of America
A 30-year-old art collection captures true America
Lauren Loeb
Issue date: 3/13/09 Section: Fine Arts and Culture
Names like Pollock, Rockwell and Warhol might ring a bell when one thinks of popular American artists. Marked down in the history books, these artists will forever be known for their timely depictions of the American scene - psychedelic splatter paint, boy scouts and Campbell tomato soup cans. Herbert Halpern's early 20th century art collection "The Recording of America," now on display at Diboll art gallery, is the legacy of the unsung artists and their hand in American pop culture. "This is the real America," Halpern said standing next to a Martin Lewis print; "Two A.M, Saturday Night," which first inspired Mr. Halpern to begin his collection of lithographs, aquatints, etchings, dry points and silk-screens 30 years ago.
One night at a friend's dinner party, Halpern spotted, on his way back from the bathroom, Lewis' dry point and etching: three women, dressed in 1930s white, knee length dresses and skull caps, walking across a street light-lit New York. Only a street cleaner stands in as an extra in the print. The painting tells a great deal about 1932 New Yorkers. The women have their hair cut short and are walking down a deserted street alone at night. Lewis shows the newfound liberation women had attained during the 30s in his next print "Down to the Sea." Women are shown in this print at the beach, walking towards the water with their butt cheeks hanging out of their bathing suits. Giving a hand to women's sexuality in America, Lewis captured the changing social scenery where women flaunted their sexuality just as much as men did.
Like Lewis, controversial artist Paul Cadmus also used the sexual taboo in his works. His 1935 etching "Short Leave" depicts U.S. Naval sailors as alcoholic sex vixens. In the black and white print, sailors fall over women, while grabbing their assets and sneaking underneath their skirts. Some of the men have a lustful tint in their eyes as Cadmus etches their snide sideways eye brows and accentuates their genitalia.
After this and other Navy etchings and paintings had been released, officers from the U.S. Navy were appalled by his portrayal of sailors in this unflattering light. Cadmus stuck by his interpretation and his name was soon splattered all over the newspapers. Admiral Hugh Rodman even requested one of his naval paintings to be removed from a government exhibition.
One night at a friend's dinner party, Halpern spotted, on his way back from the bathroom, Lewis' dry point and etching: three women, dressed in 1930s white, knee length dresses and skull caps, walking across a street light-lit New York. Only a street cleaner stands in as an extra in the print. The painting tells a great deal about 1932 New Yorkers. The women have their hair cut short and are walking down a deserted street alone at night. Lewis shows the newfound liberation women had attained during the 30s in his next print "Down to the Sea." Women are shown in this print at the beach, walking towards the water with their butt cheeks hanging out of their bathing suits. Giving a hand to women's sexuality in America, Lewis captured the changing social scenery where women flaunted their sexuality just as much as men did.
Like Lewis, controversial artist Paul Cadmus also used the sexual taboo in his works. His 1935 etching "Short Leave" depicts U.S. Naval sailors as alcoholic sex vixens. In the black and white print, sailors fall over women, while grabbing their assets and sneaking underneath their skirts. Some of the men have a lustful tint in their eyes as Cadmus etches their snide sideways eye brows and accentuates their genitalia.
After this and other Navy etchings and paintings had been released, officers from the U.S. Navy were appalled by his portrayal of sailors in this unflattering light. Cadmus stuck by his interpretation and his name was soon splattered all over the newspapers. Admiral Hugh Rodman even requested one of his naval paintings to be removed from a government exhibition.
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