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Under the Bridge
— 1930s Chicago, Modernist Color Woodcut
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Charles Turzak
Under the Bridge
— 1930s Chicago, Modernist Color Woodcutc. 1930
c. 1930
$4,500
£3,425.63
€3,916.22
CA$6,331.56
A$6,925.69
CHF 3,646.56
MX$82,685.64
NOK 46,475.96
SEK 42,514.42
DKK 29,250.12
About the Item
Charles Turzak, 'Under the Bridge', color woodcut, edition c. 50, 1934. Signed and titled in pencil. A fine, richly-inked impression, with fresh colors, on cream wove Japan paper; the full sheet with margins (3/4 to 1 13/16 inches); archivally repaired pinholes in the top left sheet corner, well away from the image, otherwise in excellent condition. Matted to museum standards, unframed.
Image size 8 x 10 1/2 inches; sheet size 13 1/2 x 10 3/8 inches.
Collection: Art Institute of Chicago.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Charles Turzak (1896–1986) was an American printmaker, painter, and illustrator celebrated for his finely carved woodcuts and wood engravings depicting urban landmarks, industrial subjects, and American historical narratives. Born in Streator, Illinois, to Czechoslovakian immigrant parents, Turzak demonstrated an early aptitude for carving and design, first evident in the miniature peach-pit sculptures he made as a boy.
After apprenticeships in woodworking and violin making, Turzak studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where he excelled in drawing and woodcarving and was elected to Delta Phi Delta, the national honorary art fraternity. By the late 1920s, he was recognized for woodcuts of Northwestern University and Chicago landmarks, works distinguished by architectural clarity, disciplined line, and compositional strength. A 1929 study trip to Europe further reinforced his commitment to classical structure and expressive graphic design.
During the Great Depression, Turzak became an early participant in the Works Progress Administration, producing murals for federal buildings and creating some of his most enduring graphic work. Among these were the WPA-sponsored Chicago Moods series of color woodcuts—expressive urban scenes that rank among his most sought-after prints—as well as the portfolio History of Illinois in Woodcuts (1935). His woodcut biography Abraham Lincoln achieved notable success at the Century of Progress International Exhibition (1933–34), firmly establishing his national reputation.
Turzak later served as art director of Today’s Health magazine and continued painting and printmaking after relocating to Florida in 1958. His works are held in major museum collections, including the Art Institute of Chicago, Metropolitan Museum of Art, National Gallery of Art, Whitney Museum of American Art, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Cleveland Museum of Art, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Library of Congress, and Crystal Bridges Museum of Art, among others.
- Creator:Charles Turzak (1899 - 1986, American)
- Creation Year:c. 1930
- Dimensions:Height: 8 in (20.32 cm)Width: 10.5 in (26.67 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement Style:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Gallery Location:Myrtle Beach, SC
- Reference Number:Seller: 1041291stDibs: LU532312716502
Charles Turzak
Charles Turzak was born in Streator, Illinois. He was a printmaker, a painter, a muralist, a teacher and a graphic artist. Turzak received his art education at the Art Institute of Chicago and continued his studies abroad. He won wide recognition as an artist/author and illustrator through his woodcut biographies of Abraham Lincoln and Benjamin Franklin as well as other American Statesmen. Charles Turzak's work has been exhibited at the Art Institute of Chicago, Milwaukee, Kansas City, Missouri, Library of Congress and the University of Illinois to mention a few. He is listed in the Who's Who in 20th Century American Artists. Over the years his designs and illustrations for national publishers have brought Turzak many honors for his originality and creativity.
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