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ARCH.2003.29, Rendition: 803454
This image displays a vintage newspaper clipping from the Buffalo, N.Y. Evening News, dated Saturday, December 4, 1948. It appears to be a single, aged page from the “Local News” section, as indicated by the heading “Local News 3” near the top left. The paper is brittle and yellow-brown with visible creases, fold marks, and three punched holes along the right edge, suggesting it was stored in a binder.
The page features two main articles addressing a controversy surrounding the Buffalo Fine Arts Academy (now the Buffalo AKG Art Museum).
Main Article:
Headline:
“NEW YORK AUCTION OF LOCAL PAINTINGS STIRS UP ART STORM”
This article details an outcry within the art community after the Albright Art Gallery (part of the Buffalo Fine Arts Academy) sold 143 paintings in a New York City auction. The sale was intended to raise funds for the gallery’s permanent collection, but many artists and art advocates protested. The key grievance was that the paintings were auctioned for very low prices — between $300 and $600 — and many of the artists were still alive, making the sale feel like a betrayal. The article mentions that the gallery had previously acquired some of these works for as little as $30-40 paintings.
The controversy was championed by Albert T. Reid, president of the American Artists Professional League, who called the auction “terrifically damaging to an artist who is still living.” He warned that such actions would deter artists from donating or selling work to public institutions. The article also quotes Louis Kronberg, a noted New York artist and patron, who condemned the sale.
The piece references a similar controversy in New York City, where the Metropolitan Museum was accused of “discouraging people who make complete donations,” and notes a parallel situation in Boston concerning the Museum of Fine Arts.
Second Article (Right Column):
Headline:
“Ritchie Says Auctioned Art Was Not of Museum Quality”
This article features a statement from Dr. Andrew C. Ritchie, director of the Albright Art Gallery. He defends the auction, asserting that the 143 paintings were not of “museum quality” and that their disposal had been “carefully considered” by the Art Committee over three years. He also declines to discuss the “Kronberg painting” specifically — likely referring to the one mentioned in the main article — citing a “present policy.”
Additional Article (Below the above, partly covered):
Headline:
“Buffalo Artist Proposes Drive on ‘Insane’ Art”
This article features an opinion piece or letter from Alex Levy, a Buffalo artist and member of the Buffalo Fine Arts Academy. He suggests the City of Buffalo organize a “drive on rats” — a satirical metaphor — to rid the community of “salacious, insane art.” He criticizes the Academy for displaying “sado-masochistic” and “pernicious” art and accuses them of ignoring local citizens and their tastes. He contrasts the Academy’s “contemporary” gallery with the “superb” art found in Shakespeare, Beethoven, or Rembrandt. Levy also references “The Yugo Muses” and “Mr. Frank Granger” of Chicago, and urges citizens to pressure the Common Council to support “true” art.
Visual Elements:
Historical Significance:
This clipping captures a moment of mid-20th-century cultural tension: the clash between modernist or “contemporary” art and traditionalist tastes, the role of public institutions in collecting and preserving art, and the rights of living artists. It also reveals how art world debates were covered in mainstream local newspapers, showing public engagement with cultural policy.
This particular controversy surrounding the Albright Art Gallery’s auction was part of a broader national conversation about the direction of American art and museum practices in the late 1940s.
The image appears to be a scanned copy of an old newspaper article from "The Buffalo Evening News," dated Saturday, December 4, 1943. The article discusses the local paintings auction and the controversy surrounding it. It mentions that the Albright Art Gallery, located in Buffalo, New York, auctioned off some of its stored paintings at "ridiculous prices." The article highlights the artists' reactions and complaints about the sale, suggesting they believe the artworks should not have been auctioned off and were of poor quality for museum standards. It also includes a statement from Dr. Andrew C. Ritchie, director of the Albright Art Gallery, defending the decision to sell the artworks. There is another article on the same page about a Buffalo artist proposing to drive on "insane" art, along with a signed article by Alex Levy, discussing the art field in Buffalo. The document shows signs of age, with a yellowed appearance, and the text has been timestamped and marked with numbers, possibly for organizational purposes.
This image shows a piece of aged yellowish paper, likely a scrapbook page or a collection of newspaper clippings related to an art controversy in 1943. The paper has several items glued to it:
Newspaper Clippings:
Handwritten Notes:
Additional Text:
The overall theme of the clippings and notes suggests a significant debate and controversy in the art community of Buffalo in 1943 regarding the disposal of art pieces and the quality of art being displayed. The paper itself shows signs of age, with some wear and tear, indicating it has been preserved for a long time.
The image is a scanned page from a newspaper or magazine, likely from the early 20th century, given the style and the content. The page is slightly aged, with a brownish tint and some visible creases and folds. There are several articles and headlines, each with distinct sections and subheadings.
Top Section:
Middle Section:
Bottom Section:
Additional Details:
Analysis:
The page reflects a period of debate and controversy within the art community, particularly around the themes of art valuation, the direction of art institutions, and the quality of art being produced and auctioned. The articles highlight the tensions between traditionalists and modernists in the art world, as well as the concerns of artists about the commercialization and perceived devaluation of their work. The handwritten notes suggest that the reader was engaged with the content, possibly indicating a personal or professional interest in the topics discussed.
The image appears to be a clipping from a newspaper. The clipping is from the Buffalo Evening News and is dated December 4, 1943. The clipping contains an article with the headline "NEW YORK AUCTION OF LOCAL PAINTINGS STIRS UP ART STORM." The article discusses an auction of local paintings in New York that has caused controversy among artists and art enthusiasts.
The article mentions that the American Artists' Professional League, which reports in the December issue of the League's publication, has expressed concern over the auction. The League's director, Dr. Albright, has stated that the auction does not meet the attitude of the American Artists' Professional League and that the gallery's actions are not of museum quality.
The article also discusses the Buffalo Fine Arts Academy's proposal to drive an "insane" auction having a detrimental effect on the local art scene. The Academy's director, Louis Kronberg, argues that the Buffalo Fine Arts Academy, which employs a large number of its artists in a permanent capacity, should not be subject to the whims of a private gallery.
The clipping also includes a letter from a Buffalo artist, Jack Gardner, who purchased a painting by another artist, Warren Quintin, at the auction. Gardner expresses his concern over the gallery's actions and the potential harm it could cause to the reputation of the artists involved.
Overall, the clipping provides insight into the controversy surrounding the auction of local paintings in New York and the concerns of the American Artists' Professional League and other artists and art enthusiasts.
The image shows a scanned page from a newspaper, specifically the Buffalo Evening News, dated Saturday, December 4, 1943. The page contains a collection of news articles and clippings, primarily focused on art and cultural events in Buffalo, New York, during that era. Here is a detailed breakdown of the content:
Article Title: "NEW YORK AUCTION OF LOCAL PAINTINGS STIRS UP ART STORM"
Article Title: "Ritchie Says Auctioned Art Was Not of Museum Quality"
Article Title: "Buffalo Artist Proposes Drive on 'Inane' Art"
The image captures a snapshot of mid-20th-century art discourse, focusing on the controversy surrounding an auction of local paintings in New York and a local artist's critique of art quality in Buffalo. The articles provide insight into the challenges faced by artists and institutions in evaluating and promoting art during this period.
The image depicts a collection of newspaper clippings from the Buffalo Evening News, dated December 4, 1943. The clippings are arranged on a piece of brown paper with two holes punched in it, suggesting that they were once part of a larger document or file.
The clippings appear to be related to art and culture, with headlines such as "New York Auction of Local Paintings Stirs Up Art Storm" and "Ritchie Says Auctioned Art Was Not of Museum Quality." The articles discuss the controversy surrounding an auction of local paintings in New York City, with some critics arguing that the works are not of high enough quality to be considered museum-worthy.
The clippings also include a letter to the editor from a reader who expresses their opinion on the matter, stating that they believe the auction is a "drive on local artists" and that it is not surprising to them that the Buffalo Fine Arts Academy has stirred up an art storm by the rather extensive display of a large number of its permanent collection of paintings.
Overall, the image provides a glimpse into the art world of the 1940s and the debates surrounding the value and quality of local art. It also highlights the importance of preserving historical documents and artifacts, such as newspaper clippings, which can provide valuable insights into the past.
The image shows a page from an old newspaper, with the headline "New York Auction of Local Paintings Stirs Up Art Storm" and several other articles and advertisements.
The image provides a glimpse into the art world of the 1940s, highlighting controversies and debates surrounding the auction of local paintings and the definition of "museum quality" art.
The image presents a yellowed, aged newspaper clipping on a brown paper background, featuring three articles related to the art world. The clipping is torn and worn, with visible creases and holes along the right edge.
Article 1:
The first article, titled "NEW YORK AUCTION OF LOCAL PAINTINGS STIRS UP ART STORM," is dated Saturday, December 4, 1943. It discusses a controversy surrounding an auction of local paintings at the Albright Art Gallery in Buffalo, New York. The article highlights the concerns of artists and art professionals regarding the sale of works by living artists, citing the potential harm to their reputation and livelihood.
Article 2:
The second article, titled "Ritchie Says Auctioned Art Was Not of Museum Quality," is also dated December 4, 1943. It features a response from Dr. Robert C. Vose, director of the Albright Art Gallery, defending the quality of the artworks sold at the auction. Vose argues that the paintings were of high quality and that the criticism was unfounded.
Article 3:
The third article, titled "Buffalo Artist Proposes 'Insane' Art," is dated Tuesday, December 7, 1943. It reports on a proposal by a local artist to create "insane" art, which was met with skepticism by the art community. The article quotes the artist as saying that the current state of art is "insane" and that he intends to create work that is even more so.
Background:
The background of the image is a plain gray color, providing a neutral backdrop for the newspaper clipping. The overall appearance of the image suggests that it is a scanned or photographed copy of an original document, possibly from an archive or historical collection.
The image presents a vintage newspaper clipping, likely from the 1940s, featuring two articles related to art and auctions. The clipping is yellowed with age and has a rough, aged appearance.
In summary, the image presents two newspaper clippings from the 1940s, discussing controversies and proposals related to art and auctions in Buffalo, New York. The clippings provide insight into the art world of the time and highlight the concerns and debates surrounding artistic value, pricing, and promotion.