Circa 1930s Edwin Kaufman Original Watercolor Nyc Demolition Scene Framed Signed

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Circa 1930s Edwin Kaufman Original Watercolor NYC Demolition Scene Signed

Description:

Offered for sale is an exceptional original circa 1930s … Read more Circa 1930s Edwin Kaufman Original Watercolor NYC Demolition Scene Signed

Description:

Offered for sale is an exceptional original circa 1930s watercolor by American artist Edwin Kaufman (1906–1939), depicting a fascinating New York City demolition scene. This striking urban composition captures the changing cityscape with expressive brushwork, bold architectural forms, and vibrant color, reflecting Kaufman’s distinctive modernist style and keen eye for everyday American life.

The painting has been professionally reframed using acid-free conservation materials, while retaining its handsome original frame. It is ready to display and has been carefully preserved.

The artwork is in very good original condition, with rich, vibrant colors that remain fresh and unfaded. It presents beautifully and is an excellent example of Kaufman’s work from the 1930s.

Measurements:

Frame: 29.5” × 24”
Sight area: 20” × 14”

A wonderful opportunity to acquire an original watercolor by Edwin Kaufman, whose works are increasingly sought after by collectors of American art. This evocative New York City scene would make an outstanding addition to any collection of early 20th-century American paintings, urban landscapes, or Modernist works.

Artist Biography – Edwin Kaufman (1906–1939)

Edwin Kaufman (1906–1939) was an accomplished American painter, printmaker, and illustrator whose career, though tragically brief, earned him recognition as one of the promising Modernist artists of his generation. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Kaufman studied at the Council Educational Alliance before graduating from Cleveland Central High School, renowned for its art and design program. He continued his formal training at the Cleveland School of Art.

In 1929, Kaufman was awarded the prestigious Agnes Gund European Traveling Scholarship, allowing him to study in Europe. He trained under influential artists including Hans Hofmann in Munich and Heidelberg, and Henry de Waroquier and Othon Friesz at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière in Paris. These experiences helped shape his expressive Modernist style.

Between 1926 and 1937, Kaufman exhibited extensively at the annual May Show at the Cleveland Museum of Art, receiving awards for his work on four separate occasions. In 1932, he was honored with a one-man exhibition of his etchings, lithographs, and drawings at San Francisco’s de Young Memorial Museum.

Although Kaufman worked as a commercial illustrator, he became best known for his printmaking and paintings depicting urban life. During the 1930s, he was active in the Cleveland Print Makers and served as president of the International Print Guild. In 1935, he joined the New York branch of the WPA Federal Art Project, where he created evocative images of New York City’s bridges, harbors, neighborhoods, and working-class districts.

Kaufman’s life and career were cut short in 1939 when he, his wife, and their young son were tragically killed in an automobile accident while returning home from a family visit. Today, his works are held in numerous museum and institutional collections and are admired for their expressive compositions, masterful draftsmanship, and compelling portrayals of American urban life during the early twentieth century. See less