Artist Abraham Walkowitz (1878-1965) was a pioneer of American Modernism, influenced by the Fauve palette and Post-Impressionist ideas that he absorbed during time spent in Paris early in his career. Returning to New York in 1907, Walkowitz was an early promoter of Modern Art, exhibiting regularly at Alfred Steiglitz’s 291 Gallery where he was known as one of the ‘Steiglitz Quartet’ along with John Marin, Arthur Dove and Marsden Hartley. Walkowitz showed eleven paintings in the seminal 1913 New York Armory Show.  

Born in Siberia, the Walkowitz family immigrated to America so that Abraham would not be drafted into the Czar’s army. They settled on the Lower East Side where Abraham quickly became involved with other immigrant artists and musicians, studying the violin and taking drawing classes. He studied formally with Walter Shirlaw at the Artist’s Institute, the National Academy of Design and the Academie Julian in Paris. His work was the subject of a major retrospective at the Brooklyn Museum in 1939. In 1944, the museum mounted an exhibition of eighty-nine paintings and eleven sculptures of Walkowitz by other artists titled One Hundred Artists and Walkowitz.  

The portrait paintings of Walkowitz in our upcoming sale American and European Fine and Decorative Arts on January 29th 2025 are by some of the artists included in the Brooklyn Museum show, and include portraits by Saul Schary, Henry Schnakenberg, Manfred Schwartz, Abraham Harriton, George Alexander Picken, and Lily Harmon. It is always interesting to see how artists view themselves through self portraits, and equally interesting to see how they depict fellow artists through portraiture. In both instances, we can appreciate Walkowitz’s conviction that “no matter what or who an artist paints, the artist always reveals himself.”   

Portraits of Abraham Walkowitz by various artists will be offered in our upcoming sale, American & European Fine & Decorative Arts on January 29th, 2025 at 10am.

Catalogue Online: Friday, January 17 2025

GALLERY PREVIEW

Friday, January 17: 9am – 5pm
Saturday, January 18: 11am – 5pm
Sunday, January 19: Closed
Monday, January 20: 9am – 5pm
Tuesday, January 21: 9am – 5pm
Wednesday, January 22: 9am – 5pm
Thursday, January 23: 9am – 5pm
Friday, January 24: 9am – 5pm
Saturday, January 25: 11am – 5pm
Sunday, January 26: Closed
Monday, January 27: 9am – 5pm
Tuesday, January 28: 9am – 5pm