During the mid-1930s a group called "The Ten" emerged, including such notables as Joseph Solman, Mark Rothko, Adolph Gottlieb, Louis Schanker, Ilya Bolotowsky and Ben-Zion. The Ten drove a resurgence of modernism and experimentalism in New York that grew during the years going forward. They came to define American Expressionism which offered a link between modernism and socially conscious art.
Currently the Mercury Gallery in Rockport is showing works from this era onward in its current exhibit, “American Expressionism: 1935 to Present," which includes these artists along with others who share a similar philosophy.
Joseph Solman (1909-2008) was a seminal figure in the modernist art movement that flourished in 20th century Manhattan.
A little known but remarkable part of the Solman repertoire includes many drawings and paintings of everyday people he admired or simply found interesting. The painting of Ruth Wintner enjoying her summer reading is one of our favorites.
An interesting sidenote is that the frame is a signature work by House Of Heydenryk, by the mid-20th century, regarded as one of the world's most prestigious picture frame companies. You may ask how Solman was able to afford such an expensive frame. He couldn't, unable to afford Heydenryk prices, but wanting the best for his work, Solman traded paintings for frames.
It has been said that good portraiture is the height of any artist's achievement, and Solman's achievement is that he did not simply strive for a likeness - he did not merely paint the person sitting in front of him but rather the essence that hid beneath.
Solman's works, from paintings to drawings and monotypes, are in collections worldwide, including the British Museum, the Whitney Museum, the Hirshhorn Museum and The Phillips Collection, among others.
