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PIX & BACKGROUND
Featuring new acquisitions by The Martin Art Trust
Featuring new acquisitions by The Martin Art Trust
ARNOLD ROTH
One of the great cartoonists of the late 20th century, Arnold Roth is quick to spot the absurdities of culture and the human condition. In this piece, entitled “Da Vinci”, speculates what might have happened if the artist had done a casting call for models to be used in his masterpiece, illustrating “Petrovian Man”. Spoiler: You can see the model who was chosen to illustrate a scientific pinnacle of the Rennaisance. But what would happen if the Master had one of the other candidates? Inow have this cartoon on my wall, to remind me that the road to enlightenment can have some very amusing detours. This work was acquired by The Martin Art Trust in April 2025.
NATALE POLLASTRINI
A certain quiet calm settles in as one views the works of the late Italian painter Natale Pollastrini. Her subjects are the architecture of small villages with few if any intrusions or the hustle and bustle of modern cities: No cars, motor scooters or neon signs. The paintings are small gems of a way of life that for most of us is now long gone. The work pictured here measures only 4.5” x 3.25”. Although Pollastrini’s paintings are small in scale they carry a much larger message about the ability to enjoy taking a rest from the onward rush into the future. The Martin Art Trust acquired this little gem at a sale at Auctions Showcase in Astoria in August 2025.
RED GROOMS
Red Grooms is one of the great art pranksters of our time. In this case, he created an image in which a newspaper is written for dogs, hence the artwork’s title: “The Daily Arf” In the image, the dog panting as if to see more news in The Daily Arf, while his best friend (man) is scratching its head. This particular work is an AP (Artist’s Proof), numbering 10 of 12 total, signed and dated. It was created in 1974. The Daily Arf was acquired by The Martin Art Trust in June 2025, through an offering on First Dibs, the on-line cyber tag sale focused on fine art and other collectibles.
PATRICK WEBB
A friend who helped me put this massive oil painting on a wall in my apartment, studied the artwork, entitled “Friday Deliveries”, and observed that the work had to be made after 1980. “Why?” I asked. “Because the city only installed the street lamps visible in the painting after 1980,” he replied. As I looked at the painting, which measures just over 40” x 50”, I noticed that the artist has taken care to include other wonderful clues to one thing that was missing: No cell phones were to be seen! That means that this painting, completed in 1983, is a time capsule based on the artist’s keen observation. It would be several years before everyone would have a cell phone glued to their ears! The Martin Art Trust acquired this work at Doyle Fine Art in February 2025. But bringing the painting home meant calling on my cell phone to get a large Uber to transport it! As I pondered how I ever lived without high tech services, I muttered to myself: “God bless technology!”
FEDOR KASCHEEV
An excellent example of Russian impressionism, the late Fedor Kascheev’s oil painting, entitled “Apiary,” was created in 1958. Viewers can easily spot the bee hives amid the flowers and tall grass which the title refers to. The painting conveys the serenity of a traditional Russian garden which one might find in a suburban dacha near a small city. This work, from the estate of a New York-based diplomat, was acquired by The Martin Art Trust at the Showplace auction house in Queens, NY in early 2025.
SAUL STEINBERG
One of the leading illustrators and cartoonists for over 50 years, until his death in 1999, Saul Steinberg was noted for his quirky take on various aspects of daily life, as well as whimsical cityscapes of which the work shown here is an outstanding example. Entitled “Main Street”, this color lithograph, is a rare Artist’s Proof (AP) of which only 4 such copies were produced. The work, created in 1972-73, was acquired by The Martin Art Trust in an auction sale at Doyle Fine Art in early 2025.
GEORGE GROSZ
This work, a lithograph entitled “Louise”, is a very early work of art produced in 1919 by the famed German artist and caricaturist George Grosz. This work is a tender subject unlike the savage caricatures with which Grosz regularly targeted the military and the wealthy, while sympathetically portraying members of the working class. This particular work is dedicated to his friend and fellow artist John Heartfield. It was included in “Ecce Homo” (“Behold Man”), a famous collection of Grosz’s cartoons, published in 1922/23. This artwork was acquired by The Martin Art Trust in April 2025, through a sale at the Showplace auction house located in Astoria, Queens.
THOMAS HART BENTON
The images created by Thomas Hart Benton are often ranked second only to those of Norman Rockwell in capturing the American spirit in the mid- 20th century. This work, entitled “Morning Train”, created in 1943, shows a train approaching a small stop somewhere in the Midwest. More importantly, it is showing the parents are saying goodbye to their son who is about to go off to fight in World War II. Thomas Hart Benton captures the emotional scene with the young man hugging his mother, while his father stands stoically apart. This scene resonated profoundly with millions of American families, as the United States was ramping up to unleash its industrial and military might during World War II. This work was issued in a print run of 250; each copy was signed by Benton himself. This artwork was acquired at an auction of prints at Swann Galleries in October 2024.
MANVILLE CHAPMAN
This work, entitled “Village Scene” depicts the monochromatic nature of a small town in the American southwest. It was created by Manville Chapman, an artist most known for his impressionistic landscapes and village scenes from his native New Mexico. Although his work is mostly collected by local aficionados, this charming oil painting came up for sale at a New York-based auction house in January, 2025, where it was acquired by The Martin Art Trust.
ARNULFO MENDOZA
Although primarily known as a master weaver and promoter of art in the Oaxaca region of Mexico, Mendoza demonstrates his use of surreal imagery in this outstanding gouache painting incorporating rich colors and patterns to achieve a stunning image of a goddess floating between wavy hills below and a starry night above. Created circa 2000, this work represents Mendoza at his best. The Martin Art Trust acquired this work in early 2025 at Showplace Auctions in New York.
(ANONYMOUS) BRONZE LEOPARD
This is a significant example of the outstanding bronze casting in the metal working region of Benin in West Africa. The work was probably created in the mid-19th century, in the last pre-colonial flowering of Benin bronze culture. The statue depicts a female leopard, carrying her cub on her back, with delicate details on the face of the mother. The cub serves as the handle for the lid of this hollow statue, which may have originally held spice or incense in earlier times. The Martin Art Trust acquired this artwork at Auctions Showplace in New York City, from the estate of a New York-based diplomat, in February 2025.
DAVID BURLIUK
This is an outstanding example of work of Burliuk, a major Ukrainian artist, who was known for his works as both a futurist and a neo-primitivist. The work, “Two Women and a Red Horse” is both deceptively simple yet loaded with key symbols of Ukrainian and indeed Slavic culture. This is especially notable with the inclusion of a red horse, symbolizing prowess, war and bloodshed. It was painted in 1948, when memories of the destruction of World War II were still all-too-familiar to those who initially viewed this painting. The Martin Art Trust acquired this work at Auctions Showplace in February 2025.
DAVID HOCKNEY
This stunning portrait of the Greco-Alexandrian poet C.P.Cavafy, was drawn by Hockney when he was in his late 20s. It was part of a limited edition portfolio of illustrations of 14 poems by Cavafy. The work shows Hockney demonstrating his confidence of both line and subject matter. The work was published by London-based Editions Alecto in 1967 in an edition of 300 copies. Acquired by The Martin Art Trust at Christie’s in February 2025.
TONY SMITH
A British based painter and printmaker, Tony Smith is best known in northern England, where his works have been shown in galleries in Edinburgh, Durham and Newcastle as well as Holland. Unlike the American minimalist sculptor of the same name, Tony Smith’s works have a deceptively primitive style which welcomes the viewer into often joyful scenes of social interactions. This piece, “Tamino and Papagino from The Magic Flute”, is an oil pastel on paper created in 1980. The Martin Art Trust acquired this work at the Doyle auction house in 2023.
SONIA DELAUNAY
Sonia Delaunay’s lithograph entitled “Composition IX” was acquired at auction at Swann Galleries in June 2024. The work demonstrates Delaunay’s mastery of abstract design and color, for which she rightly became well known in the early 1920’s. The work portrays an organic form she used many times, reflecting her artistic beliefs summed up in a movement she founded called Orphism. The Martin Art Trust acquired this work at auction at Swann Galleries in 2024.
JOHN SLOAN
Acquired at Swann Galleries in April 2024, John Sloan’s etching entitled “Bandit’s Cave” is a dazzling example of Sloan’s artistic mastery. The work, created in 1920, depicts a rakish view of nightlife in New York during prohibition. Sloan wore many hats in his career, most notably as a key organizer of the 1913 Armory Show, which introduced American art lovers to Impressionism and other schools of modern art.
HERMAN ROSE
In this oil painting entitled “Christopher Street”, Herman Rose displays his commanding skill as a leading lyrical painter in mid-20th century America. He has been called “the painter’s painter’s painter. Rose’s reputation soared when he was accepted as one of 15 artists shown in the 1952 annual new talent show at the Museum of Modern Art. Other American artists included in that show included Mark Rothko, Jackson Pollack and Clyfford Still. Rose defied the trend to abstract expressionism, winning praise from leading critics like Hilton Kramer, who in 1981 hailed Rose as an artist whose paintings “are among the most beautiful works in this challenging medium for many years.” His work can be viewed in many collections including the Hirshhorn Museum, MOMA, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the Smithsonian Institution. The Martin Art Trust acquired this painting at auction at Doyle Fine Art in 2024.
ABRAHAM WALKOWITZ
Known for his long-time obsession with Isadora Duncan, Walkowitz was a leading modernist who made over 5,000 figurative works as well as abstract motion studies of the famous dancer. This work is part of a quartet of abstract motion studies completed between 1914 and 1916. Although he did not gain the fame of some of the other modernists in the early years of the 20th century, Walkowitz was close with Alfred Stieglitz, John Marin and others who were active in organizing the famous 1913 Armory show, which introduced American audiences to modern art including impressionists, cubists and the fauvistes. The Martin Art Trust acquired this work at Swann Galleries in 2024.
WILLIAM KING
William King was a leading sculptor in the second half of the 20th century. This untitled work made of wood showing his trademark style of a solitary male figure. King studied art at Cooper Union, the Academia dei Belle Artie in Rome and the Central School in London. His works were constructed of wood, bronze, vinyl and other materials. His sculptures are in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (NYC), the Hirshhorn Museum, the Guggenheim Museum, the Whitney Museum, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The Martin Art Trust acquired this piece at auction through Swann Galleries in 2023.
WILLIAM SHARP
Known as an illustrator for leading magazines and newspapers, William Sharp produced numerous drawings and etchings. This painting, entitled ”Iron Mask,” is a rarity. Completed in 1940, the painting shows a familiarity with abstract and cubist art styles, unlike the more realist styles required for his illustrations. Sharp’s work can be seen in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum, the Carnegie Institute and the New York Public Library. “Iron Mask” was acquired by The Martin Art Trust at auction at Swann Galleries in 2023.
MORTIMER MENPES
This extraordinary portrait of James Whistler captures the essence of the scrappy and raffish personality of the painter, who was a long-time friend of Menpes, an Australian-born painter who was a leading artist in England during the late 19th century. The title of this work sums up Menpes’ admiration of Whistler: The work is entitled “Whistler in White Ducks (Whistler: Five Faces).”
MORTIMER MENPES
This extraordinary portrait of James Whistler captures the essence of the scrappy and raffish personality of the painter, who was a long-time friend of Menpes, an Australian-born painter who was a leading artist in England during the late 19th century. The title of this work sums up Menpes’ admiration of Whistler: This one is entitled “Whistler: Roguish Smile Evening.”
DAN ROMER
A portrait of the collector, Josh Martin, created by the New York-based painter and multi-media artist Dan Romer in 2021. The work, created in the artist’s studio, measures 19” x 24”, and consists of mixed media as well as pen and ink elements, on smooth Bristol paper. It captures both the attitude and the look of the collector, while displaying Romer’s remarkable skill as an artist. Acquired from the artist for The Martin Art Trust in 2021.
JACQUES LIPCHITZ
This work, entitled “Wrestlers Fighting” is a remarkable work by one of the titans of 20th century art. It is also notable for the background story about this particular piece. Lipschitz completed the work in 1941, after he moved to New York, escaping the Nazis who overran France, where he had been living since the early 1930s. He had been rescued by Varian Fry, an American idealist who had rescued many artists and others being persecuted by the Nazis by providing them with visas to travel to the US. Fry purchased this work from Lipschitz in the early 1940s. The work itself, made of ink and gouache on brown paper, measures 12 ¾ “ x 9 ¾ “. It was acquired from Fry’s descendants by The Martin Art Trust at auction in 2023.
SCOTT COUSINS
“Peace Circle” by Scott Cousins, is an arresting work of art. It demonstrates Cousins masterful skill at telling a series of tales, depicted within this surreal portrait consisting of ‘windows’ in which various figures act out a variety of scenes. The work, measuring 16” x 12”, was created in 2021. It is made of goauche, ink and flashe paint on Arches paper. It was acquired from the artist for The Martin Art Trust in 2021.
David Burliuk, Arnulfo Mendoza, David Hockney, (anonymous Benin Bronze), Tony Smith, Sonia Delaunay, Abraham Walkowitz, William King, William Sharp, WMortimer Menpes, Jacques Lipchitz, Jean Arp, Katherine Shubert-Kunioshi, Herman Rose, Pedro Roth, Victoria Chica, Zekio, Jay Walker, Karel Appel, Cynthia Consentino, RG Calvin, Andres Muller. Joseph Meierhans, Louis Charles Moeller, Jorge Vargas, Allan D'Arcangelo, Charles Gordon Harris, Charna Rickey, George Gardner Symons, Dan Romer, John Sloan, Henri Duhem, Scott Cousins, Jeff Miller,
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