Grandma (Anna Mary Robertson) Moses
(1860-1961)
"In the Camp," 1950
Oil on canvas
Signed lower right: Moses; titled, dated, and with the artist's number 1424, all handwritten on the artist's copyright label affixed verso
12" H x 16" W
Other Notes: There is a Hammer Galleries, New York circular black ink stamp surrounding a hand-written no: 21692-2 on the stretcher (nearly illegible) as well as the frame.

Provenance: Mr. and Mrs. Harry Gelles
Private Collection, Buellton, CA, by descent from the above

Literature: Kallir, fig. 928

Other Notes: Anna Mary Robertson "Grandma" Moses (1860ñ1961) was an American folk artist whose vibrant and endearing depiction of rural American life catapulted her to international fame in the mid-20th century. Born in Greenwich, New York, Moses spent much of her life immersed in the agricultural lifestyle that would later become the central theme of her work. She married Thomas Salmon Moses in 1887, and together they worked on farms, first in Virginia and later in Eagle Bridge, New York. It was not until her late seventies, when arthritis hindered her ability to embroider, that Moses turned to painting as her primary creative outlet.

Grandma Moses' artistic journey began in earnest at the age of 78, and her work quickly garnered attention for its nostalgic portrayal of pastoral scenes. Her paintings are characterized by their use of bright colors, keen observation of seasonal changes, and a charming, narrative quality that captures the simplicity and beauty of country living. Moses' art resonated with a public yearning for the comfort of an idealized past, particularly during the turbulent times of the Great Depression and World War II.

In 1938, art collector Louis J. Caldor discovered Moses' paintings in a drugstore window and purchased them all, marking the beginning of her public recognition. The following year, her work was included in an exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, and in 1940, she had her first solo exhibition at the Galerie St. Etienne in New York. Her work was met with critical acclaim and commercial success, leading to a prolific period where she produced over 1,500 works.

One of Grandma Moses' distinguished pieces, "In the Camp," crafted in 1950, stands as a testament to her talent for weaving together scenes brimming with life and emotional depth. This masterpiece captures an intimate moment between two figures separated by a riverbank, under the glow of a full moon. On one side, a figure attends to a dinner pot over an open flame beside a moored boat, while on the opposite bank, another figure engages from afar. The scene is set against a backdrop of tree-lined banks, rendered in Moses' characteristic style that features a flattened perspective and the use of bright, unmodulated colors to evoke a sense of timelessness and universality. This work, which was once housed in the Hammer Galleries in New York, is meticulously cataloged in Otto Kallir's definitive book on the artist, listed as figure 928.

Moses' legacy extends beyond her paintings. She was featured on the cover of Time Magazine in 1953, and her 100th birthday was celebrated as "Grandma Moses Day" by New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller. Her autobiography, "My Life's History," published in 1952, offers an intimate glimpse into the life of a woman who began her artistic career in her later years and became an inspiration for generations to come.

Grandma Moses passed away at the age of 101, leaving behind a body of work that continues to be celebrated for its charm, historical value, and representation of American folk culture. Her paintings are held in major collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Art Institute of Chicago, and her influence on the field of folk art remains profound.

Visual: Overall good condition. Minor frame abrasion at the tip of all but the lower right corner, and in a few places at the extreme lower edge of the canvas. A pinhead-sized fleck of stray beige paint and a very unobtrusive 0.25" long hairline surface scuff, both near the center of the extreme left edge.

Blacklight: No evidence of restoration.

Framed under plexiglas: 17.5" H x 21.5" W x 1.75" D Condition reports are offered as a courtesy and are typically published in Moran's catalogue or can be made available upon request. The absence of a condition report does not imply that an item is free from defects or restoration, nor does a reference to particular defects imply the absence of others. Buyers are responsible for determining to their own satisfaction the true nature and condition of any lot prior to bidding. Though buyers are not legally required to inspect lots prior to purchase, failure to do so may constitute a waiver of complaint that an item was not delivered in a condition equal to the existent condition at the auction.