LISTED AMERICAN GLEEN WALKER (1927-1988) FINE ORIGINAL INK DRAWING

You are bidding on a fine original ink drawing on paper portrait of a woman by listed American artist: Glenn Walker (1927-1988) in a very good condition. It is in a original wooden frame under glass. The piece is signed in the lower right by the artist. It is finally executed.

This forceful female profile is by American Modernist Glenn F. Walker (b. 1927 d. 1988). Walker studied  at The Maryland Institute College of Art and throughout his career called “the best kept secret” among art collectors. He worked in a variety of mediums including oil, watercolor, drawing, and woodcuts. Walker also investigated mixed media including Hydrostatic prints. Walker’s work experienced a controversy at the Peale in 1955 when his painting entitled “In the Room” was declared obscene by Baltimore’s Mayor D’Alesandro. The Mayor had it removed from the gallery and Walker and his colleagues protested by removing their paintings in a demonstration of solidarity. He exhibited and won prizes at The Corcoran Gallery, The Baltimore Museum of Art, and The Peale Museum.

In 1955, a group exhibition, “Life in Baltimore” at the Peale Museum made headlines over the censorship of art and resulted in a slander lawsuit.  Baltimore artist, Glenn Walker, presented a painting “In the Room,” which depicted a nude woman and a man lying in bed with the man smoking a cigarette.  The subject matter proved too racy for the people of Baltimore and led to then Mayor, Thomas D’Alesandro, Jr, (father of Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi) marching into the exhibition and demanding the immediate removal of the piece branding it both “obscene” and “morally objectionable.” In a bold move, the director of the Peale, Wilbur H. Hunter, removed the piece from the wall, but placed it on display in a separate room for private viewing.  Predictably, attendance at the exhibition and interest in the piece skyrocketed.  Thanks in part to this attention, Walker’s work went on to be found in all of Baltimore’s major art galleries.

In a 1975 interview with The Sun, Walker said of the painting, “It’s a picture of boredom. I was thinking about a guy smoking in bed.  That’s the only thing I ever saw obscene about it—the guy was smoking a cigarette on a straw bed.”

The work was later purchased by Bernard “Ben” Adler, who displayed the piece both at the Eagle Tavern in Bolton Hill and at Adler’s Place Restaurant in Baltimore. It was finally acquired by local art collector, Leonard Skolnik, who was a friend to local artists Glenn Walker, Jack Bonsal and Leonard Skorko and remained in his collection until his recent passing.

“In the Room” (lot 1213) proudly comes to auction on October 1st, and it is hung on the wall for all to view.  Relatively mild in subject to today’s viewer, the history of the piece makes it an important addition to any art collection, or Museum.  Walker eventually sued Mayor D’Alesandro to no avail, but the early controversy was just the beginning in a long line of art censorship.


                             Dimension: Frame: 15" x 19"  Painting: 7-1/2” x 10-1/2”

                                 

               Some light/flash reflections are seen in our pictures

 however this painting is in a good condition.

   After receiving the payment your item will be shipped within 1 day.

Payment should be made within 3 days of auction ending.

                                                                                    

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