Skip to main content

Fletcher Martin Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

American, 1904-1979

Fletcher Martin was an American painter, illustrator, muralist and educator. He is best known for his images of military life during World War II and his sometimes brutal images of boxing and other sports. Martin was born in 1904 in Palisade, Colorado, one of seven children of newspaperman Clinton Martin and his wife Josephine. The family relocated to Idaho and later Washington. By the age of 12, he was working as a printer. He dropped out of high school and held odd jobs such as lumberjack and professional boxer. He served in the U.S. Navy, 1922–26. Martin's artistic skills were largely self-taught.

to
1
Overall Width
to
Overall Height
to
1
1
1
1
9
971
401
359
279
1
Artist: Fletcher Martin
Untitled (Joe Louis knocking out Max Schmeling in 1938 rematch)
By Fletcher Martin
Located in Fairlawn, OH
Untitled (Joe Louis knocking out Max Schmeling in 1938 rematch) Pen and ink with wash on heavy wove sketchbook paper, 1938 Signed lower right: Fletcher Martin Directly related to Martin's famous painting of 1942 entitled "Lullaby", which was also used in the lithograph of the same name. (see photo) The drawing depicts the third and final knockdown of Max Schmeling in their rematch of 1938. Condition: Mat staining at the edges of the sketchbook page edges Toning to verso from previous framing. Does not affect framed presentation "It was here that Louis first used sport to bridge America's cavernous racial divide. With Hitler on the march in Europe and using Schmeling's victory over Louis as proof of “Aryan supremacy,” anti-Nazi sentiment ran high in the States. Louis had long grown accustomed to the pressures of representing his race but here the burdens were broader and deeper. Now he was shouldering the hopes of an entire nation. A few weeks before the match Louis visited the White House and U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, whose tenure lasted even longer than Louis' would, told him, “Joe, we need muscles like yours to beat Germany.” Those muscles certainly beat Schmeling on fight night...
Category

1930s American Realist Fletcher Martin Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Ink

Related Items
Al Hirschfeld "Beat the Band" New York Times Broadway Theatre Illustration 1940s
By Albert Al Hirschfeld
Located in New York, NY
Al Hirschfeld (1903-2003) "Beat the Band" 22 x 26 1/2 inches ink on board published in The New York Times, October 11, 1942 The unframed work comes directly from the Al Hirschfeld F...
Category

1940s American Realist Fletcher Martin Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Ink, Board

NYC Subway Mid 20th Century American Scene Social Realism WPA Modern 1930s
By Daniel Ralph Celentano
Located in New York, NY
NYC Subway Riders Mid 20th Century American Scene Social Realism WPA Modern 1930s Daniel Celentano (1902 - 1980) Subway Scene, 1930s 8 x 9 inches Ink and wash on paper Singed lower ...
Category

1930s American Realist Fletcher Martin Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paper, Ink, Gouache

"Good Health Week" American Scene Modern Social Realism Mid 20th Century WPA Era
By Jo Cain
Located in New York, NY
"Good Health Week" American Scene Modern Social Realism Mid- 20th Century WPA Era Jo Cain (1904 – 2003) Good Health Week – b/w 10 ½ x 15 1/2 inches I...
Category

1930s American Realist Fletcher Martin Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paper, Ink

"Tobacco Road" Mid 20th Century Realism 1940 Drawing from the Novel WPA Literary
By David Fredenthal
Located in New York, NY
"Tobacco Road" Mid 20th Century Realism 1940 Drawing from the Novel WPA Literary 19 1/4 x 11 1/2 (sight), Signed David Fredenthal lower right. Framed by ...
Category

1930s American Realist Fletcher Martin Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paper, Ink, Watercolor

Two Monkeys
By Lynn Gertenbach
Located in San Francisco, CA
This artwork "Two Monkeys) is an original ink drawing on thick Bristol paper by American artist Lynn Gertenbach, b.1940. It is hand signed at the lower rig...
Category

Late 20th Century American Realist Fletcher Martin Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

India Ink

Two Monkeys
Two Monkeys
$700
H 17 in W 22.5 in D 0.01 in
Young Love: Walking to School, Four Seasons Calendar Illustration
By Norman Rockwell
Located in Fort Washington, PA
Illustrated for the 1949 Four Seasons Calendar, published by Brown and Bigelow. A young girl holds a freshly-picked bouquet of flowers as she strolls alongside a boy who carries he...
Category

1940s American Realist Fletcher Martin Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paper, Ink, Watercolor

Country Life Illustration
By Stuart Davis
Located in Miami, FL
Early work when Stuart Davis was an illustrator. Christie's, New York Catalogue Raisonné
Category

1920s American Realist Fletcher Martin Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

India Ink, Pencil

TOBACCO ROAD Mid 20th Century Realism 1940 Drawing from the Novel WPA Literary 2
By David Fredenthal
Located in New York, NY
TOBACCO ROAD Mid 20th Century Realism 1940 Drawing from the Novel WPA Literary 2 10 1/2 x 6 (sight), Signed David Fredenthal lower right. Framed by Lowy....
Category

1930s American Realist Fletcher Martin Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paper, Ink, Watercolor

I am Human Watercolor on Paper
By Keith Carrington
Located in Lake Worth Beach, FL
I am Human Watercolor, ink on paper 49"x42" framed Keith Carrington Keith Carrington’s experiences have led him to express his talents through the fluid a...
Category

1990s American Realist Fletcher Martin Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Watercolor, Ink

TOBACCO ROAD Mid 20th Century Realism 1940 Drawing from the Novel WPA Literary 3
By David Fredenthal
Located in New York, NY
TOBACCO ROAD Mid 20th Century Realism 1940 Drawing from the Novel WPA Literary 3 10 1/2 x 6 (sight), Signed David Fredenthal lower right. Framed by Lowy. Offered here is one of several original drawings by WPA artist David Fredenthal that were first published in the 1940 illustrated edition of the novel TOBACCO ROAD by Erskine Caldwell. Background on the Drawing Erskine Caldwell remarked, on seeing the work of David Fredenthal, 26-year-old painter: "That boy could draw my Tobacco Road people." A casual comment, it was enormously productive. The young painter was just finishing a two-year Guggenhcim Fellowship, preceded by a year's study in Paris, two one-man shows at New York's Downtown Gallery, and a fellowship at the Cranbrook Academy near Detroit. He was out in Colorado Springs when he heard what Caldwell had said about him. Fredenthal hadn't read Tobacco Road. He had not even seen the play - now breaking all records in its seventh year on Broadway. But he swapped a portrait for a second-hand Ford and headed East. In New York he learned that Dnell, Sloan & Pearce were bringing out a deluxe edition of Tobacco Road. But he had no entrée to the publishers, and Caldwell, to his disappointment, was out of town. So he drove on to Georgia to have a look at the Tobacco Road people. He found Dr. I. C. Caldwell, the author's father, in Wrens, Ga., going on his ministerial rounds among people like the Lesters. Fredenthal got a room from a couple who ran a 1-pump filling station...
Category

1930s American Realist Fletcher Martin Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paper, Ink, Watercolor

Ford T
By Lynn Gertenbach
Located in San Francisco, CA
This artwork "Ford T" is an original ink drawing and gouache on thick Bristol paper by American artist Lynn Gertenbach, b.1940. It is hand signed at the lower left corner by the arti...
Category

Late 20th Century American Realist Fletcher Martin Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

India Ink

Ford T
Ford T
$850
H 17 in W 21 in D 0.01 in
Fillmore East 1968 Traffic, Blue Cheer, Iron Butterfly original artwork
By David Edward Byrd
Located in Southampton, NY
This is the original character study art for the very first Fillmore East concert Poster by David Edward Byrd in 1968, it is featured on page 74 of the new coffee table book "Poster Child, The Psychedelic Art and Technicolor Life of David Edward Byrd". The poster was for a concert at the Fillmore East featuring, Traffic, Blue Cheer and Buttery. An image of the finished poster is shown in this listing just for reference to the figures. David Edward Byrd created some of the most important and memorable Classic Theatre and Rock and Roll images from the 1960s and 70s. David created ALL of the Art for Bill Graham’s Fillmore East, including their Program covers and Rock posters, the art for Jimi Hendrix’s first Fillmore East appearance, The Rolling Stones 1969 World Tour art, The Who’s Performance of Tommy at the New York Metropolitan Opera House and The Fillmore, and The Grateful Dead Swell Dance Concert to name only a few. He also created the poster art for the original location of the 1969 Woodstock music festival . His memorable images were also used for classic Broadway shows like Godspell, Follies and Jesus Christ Superstar to mention only a few. A new coffee table book titled "Poster Child, The Psychedelic Art & Technicolor Life of David Edward Byrd" features his classic Rock and Roll art and Broadway art...
Category

1960s American Realist Fletcher Martin Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Ink, Watercolor, Vellum, Pencil

Previously Available Items
"Sleigh Ride, Winter, " Fletcher Martin, Woodstock, Holiday Scene Illustration
By Fletcher Martin
Located in New York, NY
Fletcher Martin (1904 - 1979) Sleigh Ride, Woodstock, New York circa 1955 Watercolor on paper 14 x 11 inches Signed lower right Provenance: James Cox Galler...
Category

1950s American Realist Fletcher Martin Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

Los Angeles Harbor from the Roof of the Federal Building-San Pedro, circa 1935
By Fletcher Martin
Located in Denver, CO
Provenence: Estate of the Artist Ink and graphite on paper. Housed in a custom frame with all archival materials. Outer dimensions are 23 x 39.75 x 1.5 inches; image measures 13...
Category

1930s American Realist Fletcher Martin Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Mixed Media

Fletcher Martin drawings and watercolor paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Fletcher Martin drawings and watercolor paintings available for sale on 1stDibs. If you’re browsing the collection of drawings and watercolor paintings to introduce a pop of color in a neutral corner of your living room or bedroom, you can find work that includes elements of blue and other colors. You can also browse by medium to find art by Fletcher Martin in ink, paint, paper and more. Not every interior allows for large Fletcher Martin drawings and watercolor paintings, so small editions measuring 10 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Adolf Dehn, Jo Cain, and Derek Buckner. Fletcher Martin drawings and watercolor paintings prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $4,000 and tops out at $4,500, while the average work can sell for $4,250.

Still Thinking About These?

All Recently Viewed