ORIGINAL PAINTING OF CIRCUS
1950s. Mixed media on paper. Dimensions: 24 x 18 in. In Very Good condition. Light age toning and mild wear to edges and corners.
1415098
Special Collections - Upstairs
Price: $6,000
NOTES
David Courlander (1866–1961) was an American self-taught folk artist whose vivid paintings of rural life, small-town America, and remembered scenes of the late nineteenth century earned him national recognition despite the remarkable fact that he did not begin painting until the age of eighty-five. Born in Bay City, Michigan, and later living in Detroit, Courlander spent most of his life working in retail display and tailoring before discovering his artistic talent in retirement. His colorful, memory-based compositions—depicting farm life, parades, circuses, hunting scenes, village streets, and historical subjects—were praised for their originality and expressive charm. His work was exhibited by the Associated American Artists gallery in New York, featured in Smithsonian exhibitions of American folk art, and today is represented in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian American Art Museum and other major institutions. Courlander was also the father of folklorist and author Harold Courlander, who donated several of his father's paintings to the Smithsonian, helping preserve the legacy of one of America's most accomplished late-blooming folk artists.