Humbert Howard Original Vintage Philadelphia PA Barn 1940s WPA African American Social Realism Oil Painting
Original vintage Philadelphia, Pennsylvania WPA social realism landscape with a barn by reknowned African American painter Humbert L. Howard, (1905-1990). The painting has thick brushstrokes from a palette knife, wIth striking green, red, and blue contrasting colors, a hallmark of post war Philadelphia style contemporary paintings. The paininh's medium is an oil on board, and is signed with the artist's initials, in the lower left corner, with the year of what appears to be '45.. The oil painting is in very good condition, and remains housed in the original 1940s era vintage wood craftsman frame. The painting's measurements are approximately 9.50" x 11.50", plus frame. In frame, the entire artwork measures approximately 13.50" x 15.65". Please review all of the detailed images as supplemental to this written condition report, for quality assurance.
Humbert Howard was an influential African American painter and curator, often described as the "Dean of Phildelphia's Black Artists". Howard's work spanned from social realism and landscapes, to vibrant, textured abstraction. He played a pivotal role in integrating the Philadelphia art scene, during the mid 20th century.
Born on July 12, 1905, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Humbert Howard initially attended Howard University on an athletic scholarship in 1932, where he shifted his focus to art, under the mentorship of James A. Porter.
To maintain a steady income, Howard worked for the U.S. Postal Service for 25 years, while continuing his artistic practice in a rented studio.
During the 1930s, Humbert Howard worked forbthe Works Project Administration (WPA) Art Project alongside notable artists Dox Thrash and Selma Burke..
Howard's early work was primarily figurative and landscape- based. However, his studies at the Barnes Foundation, (1959-1961), significantly influenced his transition toward abstraction, characterized by exaggerated forms and thick, palette- knife textures.
From 1940 to 1958, Humbert Howard served as the Art Director for the Pyramid Club, a prominent African American social organization. In this role, he curated integrated exhibits that featured Black and white artists side- by- side, breaking traditional racial barriers.
Humbert Howard passed away in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on February 10, 1990. Howard's work is held in numerous prestgious institutions, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Pennsylvania Academy if the Fine Arts, the Smithsonuan Institute (Archives of American Art), the Delaware Museum, and the Woodmere Art Museum.
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