G. Ralph Smith, American, 1907-2007, WPA, American Regionalist and Modernist

G. Ralph Smith (1907-2007) WPA - American Regionalist and Modernist A beautiful and compelling modernist work. Gloucester Pilings Oil on Masonite Art: 22" x 32" Framed: 28" x 38" Signed lower left Titled on verso Circa 1960 Superb condition Smith’s work spans the 20th century with a unique signature style that reflects a broad range of influences from Pennsylvania Impressionism to Abstract Modernism. G. Ralph Smith’s work is part of the permanent collections of a number of museums, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Woodmere Art Museum, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Columbus Museum of Art, and the National Academy of Design. Smith, born in Ohio, graduated from the Columbus Art School in 1929. He was accepted into the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in 1933 and was later awarded the Cresson Traveling Fellowship, which allowed him to study art throughout Europe. G. Ralph Smith was also a student at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art’s Country School in Chester Springs (now the village of Historic Yellow Springs). In the late 1930’s Smith collaborated with the German lithographer Theodore Cuno, known for his work with Joseph Pennel and Benton Spruance. They produced a series of twelve lithographs which typify the spirit of Philadelphia Regionalism during the great depression. Many of Smith’s paintings were inspired by trips to Rockport, MA from the late 1940’s to the late 1960’s as well as to Southern Maine, Manayunk and Wissahickon, PA. On these trips he crafted boldly colored land and seascapes. He is well known for his series of lithographs done during the 1930s through the WPA. Smith was also an accomplished illustrator working for St Nicholas magazine and Strawbridge and Clothier in Philadelphia. A long time resident of Germantown, PA, Smith worked closely with Woodmere Art Museum for 35 years and painted every day until he passed away at age 100. His style has many of the aspects of abstract realism and his sense of structure and color emphasized the intrinsic quality of the objects he painted, whether it was the human figure, a beautiful still life, or the elements of a majestic landscape.