Julius Thiengen Bloch (1888 - 1966) American/Germany

Julius Thiengen Bloch (1888 - 1966) American/Germany
Julius Thiengen Bloch (1888 - 1966) Oil on board, Signed Lower Right, Measures (7 x 8 inches) w/frame (11 x 10 inches) Julius Block, one of the prominent Jewish artists of Philadelphia, was a social realist painter whose subjects focused on the working classes. His admiration for Thomas Eakins, also a social realist, likely contributed to his interest in these subjects. For many years, he was a teacher at the Pennsylvania Academy, and his message to students was that you need to know life in order to paint life.He began his career by painting floral still-lives, but seeing Depression-era social conditions changed his focus to express his sympathy for persons who were "down and out." One of the first American artists to paint poverty-stricken black Americans, he tried to make sure that his subjects retained their dignity. In doing this, he painted many of the poor blacks with the formality of high-dollar, commissioned portraits. Not everyone was accepting of this presentation.
Condition: The absence of a condition report does not imply an object is free of defects. All items may have normal signs of age and wear commensurate with their age; these issues will likely not be mentioned in the condition report. Please contact the auction house before the auction with any condition questions. Questions about condition will not be answered after purchase. Condition reports are provided as a courtesy, and we are not responsible for any errors or omissions.
Important note on frames: Frames are not guaranteed to be in the same condition as they are in the item photograph. Due to handling and shipping, many frames, especially antique ones, are prone to losses. If you have questions about the condition of a frame, please contact us prior to the auction.