After more exhibitions, which also included Moses baked goods, by 1944 the artist was represented by two galleries, which significantly increased the sale of her works. [4], The paintings of Grandma Moses were used to publicize American holidays, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Mother's Day. She does not attempt didactic story telling in any way but rather something much simpler. The following year, three paintings by Grandma Moses were included in MOMAs exhibition of unknown contemporary American painters. Later, when her career began in earnest, she would credit her husband for her art, stating, "I am not superstitious or anything like that. CAD ($) Exploring Border Stories with Artist Tanya Aguiiga. Judith Stein noted that "her sense of accomplishment in her painting was rooted in her ability to make 'something from nothing'". She died at 101, after painting more than fifteen hundred images. Lush green fields and flowering trees populate the foreground where three cows graze alongside a wooden rail fence. A hugely popular American painter, her art laid the foundation for other artists painting in these styles such as Vestie Davis, Howard Finster, Bryan Pearce, and Fred Yates. Moses spent most of her life in nearby Eagle Bridge, New York depicting the rural landscape of Washington County. WebAnna Mary Robertson Grandma Moses (1860-1961) started painting in her seventies and within years was one of Americas most famous artists. The Sugaring Off was sold for US $1.2 million in 2006. Grandma Moses (Anna Mary Robertson Moses). Nmwa.org, Wikipedia. In the center are the outlines of other houses and a church steeple along with wagons of people heading toward the sugaring off activities. [10] When her right hand began to hurt, she switched to her left hand. 1943. In 1927, Mr. Moses died, leaving Anna to run the farm with their son. Both her work and her life helped our nation renew its pioneer heritage and recall its roots in the countryside and on the frontier.". Perhaps the most specifically American of holidays, Thanksgiving, is a fitting subject for an artist who is seen as embodying traditional, homespun American ideals. WebSummer in the Valley, 1943. Highly decorative, in the mode of the primitive painters with whom Grandma Moses was often grouped, her landscapes did more than present hills and valleys and trees and fields; they told stories as well, or inspired the viewer to make them up." For answers, be prepared for a little detective work. Marling describes how, "although sales figures were a closely guarded company secret at first, Hallmark's Grandma Moses cards sold in the millions - especially the tiny Sugaring Off. A national membership group of museum friends who share a love of American art and craft and our commitment to celebrating the extraordinary creativity of our nations artists. It will give just as much pleasure - perhaps even more. Over the course of the next decade she would live in various different homes doing all aspects of domestic work. Her efforts proved futile however and in mid-December she died peacefully in her nursing home bed at the age of 101. WebAnna Mary Robertson Grandma Moses (1860-1961) started painting in her seventies and within years was one of Americas most famous artists. WebThe nations first collection of American art, an unparalleled record of the American experience. If I put in something that was not pretty I make it look a little better. The New York Times said: "The simple realism, nostalgic atmosphere and luminous color with which Grandma Moses portrayed simple farm life and rural countryside won her a wide following. As such, these sad recollections help to account for the tranquil and loving way in which the scene was rendered. Two figures stand outside the open door as a horse drawn sleigh brings guests towards the house. As an early example of art commercialized, Moses' paintings were made into a number of salable products including greetings cards, tiles, and fabrics and marketed to sell lipstick, coffee, and cigarettes. Her father ran a flax mill and was a farmer. In Virginia, for instance, she became well-known for her homemade butter which she made and sold on the large dairy farm they were hired to run. 'It's so real that every time I walk through the living room I can smell wood-smoke,' he quipped. Grandma Moses- My Lifes History, Ca. 1950's. LIFE magazine celebrated her birthday by featuring her on its September 19, 1960, cover. Explore over 425 Million sold for prices with item details and images. Maier Museum of Art at Randolph-Macon Woman's College, "Obituary: Grandma Moses Is Dead at 101; Primitive Artist 'Just Wore Out', "Anna Mary Robertson ("Grandma") Moses Biography", "National Register of Historic Places Program: Women's History Month Feature 2013 - Mt. She created embroideries for family and friends, but by the age of 76, she had developed arthritis, making her hobby a painful one. Anna Mary Robertson Moses grew up on a farm in upstate New York, where she worked as a hired girl, helping neighbors and relatives with cleaning, cooking, and sewing. Anna Mary Robertson Moses (September 7, 1860 December 13, 1961), or Grandma Moses, was an American folk artist. By the 1950s, Grandma Moses had become a cultural icon for women and aged individuals. She left home at a young age, with minimal education and went to work on a neighboring farm. The story of Grandma Moses attributes success and longevity to perseverance, childlike enthusiasm, and an unwavering appreciation of life's small joys. The scene is so realistic that it looks as though the artist has gathered foliage and used a collage technique to make the picture. Although doing different work, the emphasis in the picture is that all working contributions are valid, alongside a small protest that woman would rather not be making the soap (Moses recalled that she always disliked this job). [19] It was not as common as her winter landscapes. [7][8], Five of the ten children born to them survived infancy. This was largely due to other responsibilities, which were formalized at the age of twelve when her parents sent her away to board and work as a housekeeper. Anna Mary Moses (nee Robertson) was born September 7, 1860, in Greenwich, New York. By the age of 76, Moses had developed arthritis, which made embroidery painful. Moses appeared on magazine covers, television, and in a documentary of her life. Impressed by her spirit, the President invited her to a private party the next evening where, according to Cleary, "she even managed to persuade him to play a bit on the piano. Her naive style (labeled American Primitive by art historians) was acclaimed for its purity of colour, its attention to detail, and its vigour. Set in lush country landscape, in the distance are rows of green trees and hills. According to text from the Bennington Museum, "in 1777 the building was used as headquarters for the British troops before the Battle of Bennington and as a hospital following the battle. Further back, a picturesque white house sits on the bank of a river, and then further back still the horizon flows into a distant mountain range. Her art, created in a time when the country was rebuilding itself from the horrors of World War II, helped to remind viewers of a simpler time; a time of innocence, hard work, and family values. [23], The character Daisy "Granny" Moses (Irene Ryan) on The Beverly Hillbillies, was named as an homage to Grandma Moses, who died shortly before the series began. I was in from the back woods, and I didn't know what they were up to. LIFE magazine featured her on the cover, while New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller proclaimed the day Grandma Moses Day.. In the forefront, as so often in Moses' paintings, the main action is taking place; here there are figures engaged in various activities and the scene looks much like a child's play set up, there is a dolls' house and lots of toy horses. Utterly self-taught with a directness of vision, her life and work illuminate the far-reaching power of one pair of practical, whilst also determined and devoted, human hands. Plan your visit. Soon after, Hallmark purchased the rights to reproduce her paintings on greeting cards and the name Grandma Moses became known across the country. Sign up for our newsletter for exclusive deals, discount codes, and more. Grandma Moses died at the age of 101, on December 13, 1961. Acknowledging the importance of memory to her landscapes, Moses once stated, "what a strange thing is memory and Hope. "[1] In 1955, she appeared as a guest on See It Now, a television program hosted by Edward R. Some found the work too simple or primitive, others found that it did not align with the then popular Surrealist and just developing Abstract Expressionist art movements; however Caldor persevered. WebMoses' paintings are displayed in the collections of many museums. 1943. This lecture features Jane Kallir, co-director of the Galerie St. Etienne in New York, providing a discussion on the life and work of Grandma Moses, it was presented on September 17, 2016 at the Shelburne Museum in conjunction with its 2016 exhibition Grandma Moses: American Modern. Painting in an untrained manner that refused to follow more traditional rules of classical art making, she elevated the status of nave, folk, outsider, Art Brut, and primitive art styles. It was also in a review of this exhibition that a reporter referred to her as "Grandma Moses" a name which would stick and for which she would be affectionately known for the rest of her career. This aspect of her work is quite ironic, for although the subject of her work supports self-sustainability, and she herself held ambiguous views on the "progress" of industrialization, her popularization was fueled by burgeoning capitalism. [16], She was a prolific painter, generating more than 1,500 canvasses in three decades. Originally purchased in the 1940s for under $10,[20] the piece was assigned an insurance value of $60,000 by the appraiser, Alan Fausel. Her third solo show in as many months, was held at the Whyte Gallery, Washington, D.C.[10] In 1944, she was represented by the American British Art Center and the Galerie St. Etienne, which increased her sales. ", Unable to meet the growing demand, reproductions became an effective way to ensure everyone got to have a "Grandma Moses" of their own. Paintings by Grandma Moses should look pedestrian, as that was her style, but not too child-like. A nervous Moses, spent the night searching her house for more paintings and was forced to cut a large one in half to make two paintings and meet her quota (something Caldor would not realize for some time). He liked to see us draw pictures, it was a penny a sheet and lasted longer than candy. ]Her brothers poked fun at her "lambscapes," as she called them, but her father urged her on.". However with much in common, both interested in illustrating everyday American life, the two became good friends and Rockwell would frequent many future birthday parties. Although she loved living in the Shenandoah Valley, in 1905 Anna and Robert moved to a farm in Eagle Bridge, New York at her husband's urging. Grandma Moses initially charged very little for her paintings three to five dollars. Marrying in 1887, she eventually gave birth to 10 children (5 of whom survived past infancy). Moses spent most of her life in Eagle Bridge, New York, fifteen miles northwest of Bennington, depicting the rolling landscape of Washington County. August 22, 2017, By Debbie Hagan / WebGrandma Moses Paintings. As author Margot Cleary explains, "throughout her career Grandma Moses was fond of painting old homesteads of local repute. Web1942 Grandma Moses Painting Value (2019) | $100,000Insurance Watch Read Appraisal Transcript GUEST: This has been in our family since Grandma Moses painted it. Untitled (Covered Bridge), ca. All Americans mourn her loss. Fiercely independent, Moses did not like this new arrangement and according to Cleary, upset that her doctor insisted she give up painting, "there were times when she was so annoyed with him that she would hide his stethoscope and refuse to reveal where it was unless he let her go back home." 1950's, Signed Autograph 3x5 Cut, Certified Graded by PSA DNA , ca. This can particularly be seen in her paintings "Applebutter Making" (1947) and "Pumpkins" (1959). Set in the springtime with rolling hills and green trees, other figures are also shown collecting eggs. Grandma Moses- My Lifes History, Ca. Galerie St. Etienne. Her exhibitions were incredibly popular and well-attended. Want to learn more about the painting you found while clearing out the attic? He even depicted Moses in the crowd for his 1948 Christmas painting featured on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post, scenes for which he was particularly famous. Web1942 Grandma Moses Painting Value (2019) | $100,000Insurance Watch Read Appraisal Transcript GUEST: This has been in our family since Grandma Moses painted it. Moses' birthday parties also became major celebrations. Grandma Moses became a celebrity artist, and her character even featured in a television show. Smithsonian American Art Museum and Renwick Gallery. The indefatigable artist has been the subject of exhibitions at the worlds most prestigious institutions, from the Museum of Modern Art and Centre Pompidou to the Stedelijk Museum and Tate Modern. With the summer season in focus, a man plows a field on the lower right while two girls wearing red dresses play with a boy in and around a big flowering tree. By Robert Wolterstorff, Thomas Denenberg, Jamie Franklin, Diana Korzenik, Alexander Nemerov, By Jane Kallir, Roger Cardinal, Michael D. Hall, Lynda Roscoe Hartigan, Judith E. Stein, By Karen Wilkin / In "Grandma Moses Goes to the Big City" (1946), in the Smithsonian American Art Museums collection, she depicts herselfat age 80about to leave on her first trip to New York City to see her paintings on view at Galerie St. Etienne. The talk was presented on September 17, 2016 at the Shelburne Museum in conjunction with its 2016 exhibition Grandma Moses: American Modern. Regardless of the monetary value of your artwork, if it is personally meaningful, you should consider having the object conserved. This became the family's preferred way to keep busy and pass the time when not at work. Hyperallergic / Unusually however, her work does not have the same dark, anxious, and conflicting aspects customary to. 1950's. The Sugaring Off was sold for US $1.2 million in 2006. Etienne. It was here that she gave birth to her children, half of whom never lived long enough to experience life themselves. She is buried there at the Maple Grove Cemetery. Moses had three brothers and she loved being outdoors with them, she describes herself in her own memoir, My Life's History, as something of a "tomboy" and said that if there was anything her brothers could do, she could do it better. Referred to as "Primitive Red" it was inspired by the red in her Old Checkered House paintings. According to Cleary, "her father, who had done some painting himself, would bring home sheets of newsprint now and then[]and she would set to work. WebGrandma (Anna Robertson) Moses (1860 - 1961)American Print Winter Twilight Measure 12 1/2"in H x15 1/4"in W Known for: Naive landscape and rural ge 277: Grandma (Anna Robertson) Moses (1860 - 1961) American Est: $ 200 - $ 300 View sold prices Nov. 09, 2022 Coral Gables Auction Coral Gables, FL, US Later, the couple bought a farm,[2] Mount Airy, near Verona, Virginia; it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2012. WebGrandma Moses initially charged very little for her paintings three to five dollars. Moses and her husband began their married life in Virginia, where they worked on farms. Art remained a family pastime that Moses all but abandoned for a period in her life beginning as an early teen. Her naive style (labeled American Primitive by art historians) was acclaimed for its purity of colour, its attention to detail, and its vigour. All Rights Reserved, Designs on the Heart: The Homemade Art of Grandma Moses, Grandma Moses: American Modern' Review: An Icon as You've Never Seen Her, The Making of Grandma Moses, Folk Modernist, Goodwill Grandma: Anna Mary Robertson Moses and Cold War Cultural Diplomacy. WebAnna Mary Robertson Moses (September 7, 1860 December 13, 1961), or Grandma Moses, was an American folk artist. Beginning in 1932, Moses made embroidered pictures of yarn for friends and family. For author Karal Ann Marling, "in Grandma's pictures you could go home again even if you had never seen a farm before." WorthPoint is the largest resource online for identifying, researching and valuing antiques. Read More. Currency:USD ($) 1950's. Marrying in 1887, she eventually gave birth to 10 children (5 of whom survived past infancy). While many critics could not get past what they deemed the "primitive" and "untrained" aspects of Moses' art, paintings such as this one helped to endear her to the American public and became very popular in a much wider reaching sphere than the art world. Sugaring Off was sold for US$1.2 million in 2006. According to Marling, "the popularity of Mrs. Moses' maple sugar pictures cannot be overestimated. It is also worth noting that although she did not paint often in early life, Moses put her hand to a great deal of crafting projects, and she became particularly talented with needlework. Her specialty was depicting rural life, and she made landscapes and portraits based on that scenery. WebAnna Mary Robertson Moses (September 7, 1860 December 13, 1961), or Grandma Moses, was an American folk artist. The same year she took on a major project, illustrating a version of Clement Moore's The Night Before Christmas for Random House publishers. She did not however simply and truthfully depict it. After you get to be about so old you can't expect to go on much further." She wrote an autobiography (My Life's History), won numerous awards, and was awarded two honorary doctoral degrees. Naturally - naturally, I should. In 1940, she traveled with Carolyn Thomas, owner of the drugstore that first exhibited her work, to New York City where the famed Gimbels department store was holding an exhibit of her paintings. As her career advanced, she created complicated, panoramic compositions of rural life. 2023 The Art Story Foundation. 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