Catalogue of The Arts

by Canadian National Exhibition

1932. Grey wraps. 134 pp. 55 bw plates.

Catalogue listing of 1231 works, including American painting, Canadian painting and sculpture, and British watercolors, graphic and applied art, and photography. Contains prices.

136 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1932

Reviews

[Tom Schulte · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know much about the art world and buying high end art, but this large catalog of museum grade pieces with plates (all B&W) seems literally a relic from the past. The American painting, Canadian painting and sculpture, British watercolors, and more all seem ready for the museum wall, corporate boardroom of mansion vestibule. It is a gallery stroll in miniature where is seems anything can be had for a few thousand or less (Canadian, 1932) dollars. Some of the portraits really caught my eye and I see one earned an award and a New York Times mention the prior year:

The Lee Jeffreys prize of $250 at the annual members' exhibition at the Grand Central Galleries will be presented to Dimitri Romanovsky for his painting called "Alice." Each year a prize is reserved for the artist whose painting receives most ballots from visitors to the galleries.
- "Dimitri Romanovsky Wins Art Prize."

The art seems to be of the era and thus rather similar. The topical musings of J. E. Sampson painting "The Einstein Theory". It shows a pondering man... Generally the pieces picked for illustration seem pretty safe and realistic. One imaginative one is Harry Sternberg Dreams. From the photography section is a pairing composition "Mutual Admiration" (1924) by William Mortensen.