86. Thomas Hart Benton (American, 1889-1975)

"Jesse James".
lithograph, 1936, Associated American Artists edition of 100, signed in stone lower left, signed in pencil lower right margin, titled in pencil lower right corner of margin, matted.
16-3/8" x 22-1/8" (image).
19-3/4" x 23-3/4" (sheet).

5,000/8,000     

This image is derived from a scene Benton portrayed in his "Missouri Mural" (1935-36)--the most sophisticated of all his mural designs, and the only one of his 1930s murals that remains completely intact and in situ. It is located in the House Lounge in the Missouri State Capitol Building in Jefferson City.

In this print "Jesse James", Benton shows an American folk tale in action. It is inspired by the traditional ballad about the notorious bank and train robber and his gang. Benton told Creekmore Fath: "The foreground figure was posed by Dan James, an actual descendant of the James clan. The picture shows actions that occurred at different times as if they were simultaneous."

Benton often translated his paintings into lithographs as a way of popularizing his imagery, and as a moneymaking venture. The prints were distributed by Associated American Artists Galleries in New York, largely through mail order. Most of the AAA prints were issued in editions of 250. This lithograph of "Jesse James" as well as Benton's two other prints derived from the Missouri Mural ("Frankie and Johnnie" and "Huck Finn") were issued in smaller editions of only 100. These three lithographs are the largest prints Benton ever produced, among the most highly prized of all AAA prints, and among the rarest in Benton's graphic oeuvre.

Literature:
Creekmore Fath, The Lithographs of Thomas Hart Benton, new edition, Austin, University of Texas Press, 1990, cat. no. 13, pp. 46-7.

Condition: remains of older hinge tabs at top, small tip of upper left corner of margin missing, minor waves in paper at upper right margin, otherwise excellent.