Collection of the University of Pittsburgh Art Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA. Gift of The Gimbel Brothers, Inc.
1959.GIMBEL.26
Miner at Coal Face
October 1 1947 (Date published)
1946 – 1947 (Date created)
1946 – 1947 (Date created)
Gouache, Ink
Painting
Paintings
25.75 in W
x
31 in H
(Frame)
11 in W x 18 in H (Image)
11 in W x 18 in H (Image)
American
Mine picking coal by his headlamp after dynamite breaks coal from face in large blocks, with carbide pack on his back.
"Miner at Coal Face" was painted on commission from the Gimbel Brothers, Inc. as part of the Gimbel Pennsylvania Art Colection, a project begun in 1946 that included 14 artists who were given instructions to "paint Pennsylvania as you see it." The completed collection was made available to galleries all over the United States and was featured in the National Geographic article, "Artists Look at Pennsylvania." In 1959, the collection was divided between the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Pittsburgh where the Pittsburgh Collection was exhibited as part of PItt's Bicentennial Celebration in 1986-1987. Fletcher Martin chose to portray the processes of coal mining as his contribution to the Gimbel Collection. In "Miner at Coal Face", Martin shows a miner picking coal that has to be dynamited and then cracked by hand in order to be carried on a shaker shute to the loading platform. Martin limits his palette to gradiations of black and white to show the colorless realities of the mine with its earth, black coal, and the sole illumination from the harsh, krypton-filled cap lamps. The battery operated lamps were spaciously designed with two filaments: one produced the bright light that could be focussed on the work, (Martin illustrates this with white goulash highlighting) and the second provided back-up, wide angle light for general illumination.
From exhibition label by Amy Tait.
"Dynamite detonation breaks coal from the face in large blocks that must be cracked by hand pick in order to be carried by shaker mechanism to the loading platform. Here a miner picks the coal, his only light coming from his cap lamp. The anthracite coal industry reached its peak in 1917 when 89,171,120 net tons were produced." (D. Grafty, "Pennsylvania as Artists See it: The Gimbel PA Art Collection", 1948)
From exhibition label by Amy Tait.
"Dynamite detonation breaks coal from the face in large blocks that must be cracked by hand pick in order to be carried by shaker mechanism to the loading platform. Here a miner picks the coal, his only light coming from his cap lamp. The anthracite coal industry reached its peak in 1917 when 89,171,120 net tons were produced." (D. Grafty, "Pennsylvania as Artists See it: The Gimbel PA Art Collection", 1948)
In Collection
ca. 1959, University Art Gallery Gift of Mr. Steve Osterweis, President of Gimbel Brothers, Inc., Pittsburgh, Pa.
ca. 1946-1959, Gimbel Brothers, Inc.
ca. 1946-1959, Gimbel Brothers, Inc.
Catalog of October 1, 1947 (first publication of the paintings)
D. Grafty, "Pennsylvania as Artists See it: The Gimbel PA Art Collection", 1948
R. Gigler, "Pittsburgh's Man of Steel", Pittsburgh Press Roto, August 12, 1979.
O. Francis, "The Saga of Joe Magarac Steelman", Scribner's Magazine, nov. 1931.
Roy Kahn, "Real Pittsburgh: Just an Average Joe", Pittsburgh Magazine, nov. 1985, 17-18.
Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph, Feb. 25, 1948
John Oliver La Gorce, "Artists Look At Pennsylvania", National Geographic Magazine
Catalogue from March 1959 when the collection was presented at the new University Student Union at Pitt (formerly Schenley Hotel).
D. Grafty, "Pennsylvania as Artists See it: The Gimbel PA Art Collection", 1948
R. Gigler, "Pittsburgh's Man of Steel", Pittsburgh Press Roto, August 12, 1979.
O. Francis, "The Saga of Joe Magarac Steelman", Scribner's Magazine, nov. 1931.
Roy Kahn, "Real Pittsburgh: Just an Average Joe", Pittsburgh Magazine, nov. 1985, 17-18.
Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph, Feb. 25, 1948
John Oliver La Gorce, "Artists Look At Pennsylvania", National Geographic Magazine
Catalogue from March 1959 when the collection was presented at the new University Student Union at Pitt (formerly Schenley Hotel).
Please note that cataloging is ongoing and that some information may not be complete.
Corporate commissions
Western Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh
Industry
Social
Western Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh
Industry
Social