Artist Francis Stephen WPA/Regionalist Lithograph...Info?

[Jarl]

I thought I'd post this lithograph I bought on Etsy by Francis Stephen. It was probably done in the 1930-1940s possibly a bit later, but more than likely within the WPA time frame. It's on par in skill and subject matter with similar works by Grant Wood and others of that ilk. I called the local museum to see what they might know. One of the staff did a cursory search in their record of collections and didn't find any works by Francis Stephen. They also checked the AAA(Association of American Artists) to no avail. I was hopeful that they'd have at least heard of the artist seeing that we're in the heart of hearts for regionalist art history(Grant Wood and Marvin Cone were from here). Maybe someone here on TN might be able to find something on the artist in question. The lithograph is #2 of an edition of 14, which the museum staff thought was a little unusual for such a well executed print. On the verso is a penciled note from an unnamed person who apparently knew the artist which reads:

"Last I heard, was teaching at a college in Texas somewhere. He worked in Burlington, Iowa, for a time while I was working in Cedar Rapids - Came to visit one weekend.."

So there's some local as well as an out of state association here. If the rumor is true about him teaching in Texas, he shouldn't be hard to find I would think. There's no indication what type of work the 'note writer' was referring to for either of them...could have been anything from teaching or any other form of labor. I'd love to know who wrote the note to be sure. I tried to search his name on Find-a-Grave to see if I could locate an obituary that way, because nothing else seems to come up doing a general Google search. I'm hoping I can locate another print or other work of his somewhere that might indicate more.

Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks you.

 

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[Blackfoot58]

I thought I'd post this lithograph I bought on Etsy by Francis Stephen. It was probably done in the 1930-1940s possibly a bit later, but more than likely within the WPA time frame. It's on par in skill and subject matter with similar works by Grant Wood and others of that ilk. I called the local museum to see what they might know. One of the staff did a cursory search in their record of collections and didn't find any works by Francis Stephen. They also checked the AAA(Association of American Artists) to no avail. I was hopeful that they'd have at least heard of the artist seeing that we're in the heart of hearts for regionalist art history(Grant Wood and Marvin Cone were from here). Maybe someone here on TN might be able to find something on the artist in question. The lithograph is #2 of an edition of 14, which the museum staff thought was a little unusual for such a well executed print. On the verso is a penciled note from an unnamed person who apparently knew the artist which reads:

"Last I heard, was teaching at a college in Texas somewhere. He worked in Burlington, Iowa, for a time while I was working in Cedar Rapids - Came to visit one weekend.."

So there's some local as well as an out of state association here. If the rumor is true about him teaching in Texas, he shouldn't be hard to find I would think. There's no indication what type of work the 'note writer' was referring to for either of them...could have been anything from teaching or any other form of labor. I'd love to know who wrote the note to be sure. I tried to search his name on Find-a-Grave to see if I could locate an obituary that way, because nothing else seems to come up doing a general Google search. I'm hoping I can locate another print or other work of his somewhere that might indicate more.

Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks you.

That is a very nice visual.

 

[Jarl]

That is a very nice visual.

Thanks, I thought so too. It's an actual hand pulled lithograph...not a reproduction. I collect Impressionist, Abstract and Regionalist works too and sometimes things like pop art and Memphis Milano etc. Though I often wind up with works by artists that I just can't find anything on...like this German portrait painting I bought last year who it seems was by a listed artist of some note, but, I can't figure out what entity in Germany might be able to verify the work. There's another work of his dated much earlier on Ebay being sold in France currently for several thousand. I'd like to know who the portrait is of...all I know is that she's a widow based on how she's dressed. I'll probably post it here sometime.

 

[Bramblefind]

I think this could be Francis Stephen (1916-2010). I am not an art historian, I just find this likely based on some of what I found just in this last hour or so. I think he became better established for his jewelry and sculpture. But the note you have does seem to match up with what I found about his biography. Also, I found a mention that he designed a mural, so it seems he could have done something like your piece.

This Francis Stephen was also in Cedar Falls for a time. See below for some articles.

from - 1989 (Texas) 1964 (Iowa) 1963 (Iowa) 1964 (Texas)

Francis B. Stephen



Avalanche-Journal



Thursday, April 01, 2010
Story last updated at 3/31/2010 - 7:42 pm



Francis B. Stephen, 94, was called home to be with his Lord and Savior on March 27, 2010. Born to Joseph and Maud Johnson Stephen on March 7, 1916 near Dublin, Texas in the Cottonwood Community, he was the youngest of nine children, all of whom preceded him in death.



He served in the U.S. Army mostly with the 72nd Harborcraft Company during World War II. His tour of duty included North Africa, Italy and France. Steve was a staff writer and artist for the Stars and Stripes for a brief time. After his service, he graduated with simultaneous Bachelor's and Masters Degrees in Fine Arts from Oklahoma University in 1952. In 1950, he married Gwen Whitmer in Parkville, Missouri in 1950.



Steve taught art at Phillips University, North Texas State University, and Texas Tech University. He retired from Texas Tech in 1982. During his career, Steve was the recipient of national awards and recognized for his jewelry designs and kinetic art pieces.



He was a lifelong Christian. He was baptized early in life and served his churches as a deacon. He enjoyed presenting chalk talks to Sunday School classes and devoted much of his art work to the glory of God.



He is survived by his wife, Gwen, and son Mark, both of Lubbock. He is also survived by son, Matt and wife Martha, and his daughter, Kathryn Ferguson. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Elizabeth and husband Neal Bridges, Becky and husband Kris Kelley, and Jared and Abby Ferguson, as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.



There will be a celebration of his life at Highland Baptist Church on Saturday, April 3, at 1 p.m.

 

[Blackfoot58]

You can see Grant Wood inspiration in the litho

 

[Jarl]

I think this could be Francis Stephen (1916-2010). I am not an art historian, I just find this likely based on some of what I found just in this last hour or so. I think he became better established for his jewelry and sculpture. But the note you have does seem to match up with what I found about his biography. Also, I found a mention that he designed a mural, so it seems he could have done something like your piece.

This Francis Stephen was also in Cedar Falls for a time. See below for some articles.

from - 1989 (Texas) 1964 (Iowa) 1963 (Iowa) 1964 (Texas)

Francis B. Stephen



Avalanche-Journal



Thursday, April 01, 2010
Story last updated at 3/31/2010 - 7:42 pm



Francis B. Stephen, 94, was called home to be with his Lord and Savior on March 27, 2010. Born to Joseph and Maud Johnson Stephen on March 7, 1916 near Dublin, Texas in the Cottonwood Community, he was the youngest of nine children, all of whom preceded him in death.



He served in the U.S. Army mostly with the 72nd Harborcraft Company during World War II. His tour of duty included North Africa, Italy and France. Steve was a staff writer and artist for the Stars and Stripes for a brief time. After his service, he graduated with simultaneous Bachelor's and Masters Degrees in Fine Arts from Oklahoma University in 1952. In 1950, he married Gwen Whitmer in Parkville, Missouri in 1950.



Steve taught art at Phillips University, North Texas State University, and Texas Tech University. He retired from Texas Tech in 1982. During his career, Steve was the recipient of national awards and recognized for his jewelry designs and kinetic art pieces.



He was a lifelong Christian. He was baptized early in life and served his churches as a deacon. He enjoyed presenting chalk talks to Sunday School classes and devoted much of his art work to the glory of God.



He is survived by his wife, Gwen, and son Mark, both of Lubbock. He is also survived by son, Matt and wife Martha, and his daughter, Kathryn Ferguson. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Elizabeth and husband Neal Bridges, Becky and husband Kris Kelley, and Jared and Abby Ferguson, as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.



There will be a celebration of his life at Highland Baptist Church on Saturday, April 3, at 1 p.m.

Thanks for finding all that info. It does seem likely to be the same person. I'll have to investigate further to see if I can find a definite link. Would be nice to find some other mention of him online or his other artworks...or prints for that matter.