John "Jack" Savitsky (American, 1910-1991). "Reading Railroad" oil on wood, 1966. Signed and dated on lower right. A captivating painting of the Reading Railroad with its conductors, hauling coal through Pennsylvania, by American folk artist, Jack Savitsky. Savitsky's colorful depictions of the daily lives and surroundings of Pennsylvania coal miners stemmed from his personal experience as a miner for over 40 years. In addition to capturing this slice of American history, Savitsky was an outstanding folk artist. According to artist and patron Sterling Strauser, Savitsky's style and technique compared to those of Eastern European folk artists in that he used the 'same treatment of line and the same repetition'. A fabulous example of Savitsky's oeuvre, rendered with his economic use of line and saturated colors - presenting a graphic style that simultaneously resonates with Postmodern sensibilities and captures America's past with precious nostalgia. Size: 7.875" L x 21.625" W (20 cm x 54.9 cm) Size: 10.5" L x 24.375" W (26.7 cm x 61.9 cm)

Jack Savitsky is among America's most impressive self-taught artists. After completing the sixth grade, he went to work in the coal mines of northeastern Pennsylvania. Four decades in the mines resulted in black lung disease; so in 1960, Savitsky retired and began to pursue art. According to the Archives of American Art, "Jack Savitsky worked in the coal mines of Lansford, Pennsylvania, for more than forty years. He enjoyed painting as a child and remembered that 'instead of doing ABCs,' he would draw pictures of cats and dogs. During his off hours, he painted signs on windows and trucks and created murals for local speakeasies. By the time he was in his fifties, he suffered from 'black lung' and was unable to find work and so devoted all of his time to painting." (Jack Savitsky, Oral History, 1990, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution)

Savitsky’s work is in many museums including the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the American Folk Art Museum and curators have discussed his art as creating a record of America's past while honoring the working class. For example, Jo Ann Cotz of Seton Hall University stated, "Savitsky celebrates the dignity of work and working class people with masterful simplicity, honesty and a reverence for the community he was a part of. We thank him for sharing his vision with us."

Provenance: Private Boulder, Colorado, USA collection, purportedly acquired from folk artists Sterling and Dorothy Strauser between 1966 and 1971

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#170927

A few minor scratches that are difficult to see. Otherwise excellent with vivid imagery and coloration. Signed and dated by the artist on the lower right. Painting is mounted on a wooden board as shown.