Joseph Vorst
Missouri, (1897-1947)
Deep River, 1941
oil on canvas over plywood
signed, dated, framed

Exhibited:

"Directions in American Painting," Carnegie Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, October 23 - November 14, 1941

"Vorst," A.C.A. Galleries, 26 West Eighth Street, New York, November 30 - December 13, 1941

The American Gallery Exhibition, May 14 - June 30, 1992

"An American Art Colony: The Art and Artists of Ste. Genevieve, MO (1930-1940)"; Cedarhurst Center for the Arts, February 25 - April 23, 2006

Stamped verso: Estate stamp Joseph P. Vorst

In describing this painting for the A.C.A. exhibition in 1941, Vorst explains: "The real artist designs his masterpiece in the simplest and truest form. To illustrate this statement I take as an example one of my later paintings which I have called 'Deep River.' This painting symbolizes the great Mississippi river as I imagine in the strongest sense of emotion. The painting further portrays a negro Venus born out of the muddy water, catfishing. I have tried to transfer to canvas the great music of the river and river life as strong and moving as Dvorak's masterful New World Symphony." Vorst goes on to say: "Whenever I listen to the musical composition 'Deep River,' I feel that it is the essence of harmony with a powerful, sweeping emotional current."
37 1/2 x 24 3/4 inches