Wednesday, June 1, 2016

New Deal Art: "Cross Road" - a White House winner

Above: "Cross Road," an oil painting by Paul Benjamin (1902-1982), created while he was in the New Deal's Public Works of Art Project (PWAP), ca. 1933-1934. According to the Smithsonian American Art Museum, "Benjamin's unpretentious canvas did well in national competition; it was one of thirty-two PWAP works to win a coveted spot in the White House." There is something alluring and serene about this painting, perhaps even more so today than during the 1930s. Its simplicity and peacefulness stands in opposition to the congestion, greed, and self-important aspects of modern living. Image courtesy of the Smithsonian.

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