43: THOMAS HART BENTON (1889-1975) PENCIL SIGNED LITHOGRAPH

Thomas Hart Benton (1889-1975)
Fire in the Barnyard (1944)
The lithograph from an edition of 250 prints published by Associated American Artists on wove paper is signed by the artist in pencil below the image lower right, listed as Fath catalog number 64. A nice dark impression in fine condition and with the original AAA label.



Benton's comments in Fath read: 'This picture was made from a memory of my childhood. My grandfather 'Pappy' Wise had a cotton farm a few miles, 5 or 6, out of Waxahachie, Texas and one night when I was about 7 or 8 years old a great light appeared in the sky. It was so great that speculation about the end of the world was bruited about among the grown folks at the farm. As it turns out a straw stack had caught fire on an adjoining farm and some small tool sheds and part of a fence was burned. We all visited the place next morning and heard tell of how the farmer and his sons had got the scared horses of the the barn. Such things are immensely impressive to young uns.'
Image measures 8.5 x 13.25, sheet is 11.75 x 16 inches.
Very good to fine condition, the full untrimmed sheet, not laid down, no damage, stain, punctures, tears or repair, very clean, all original and a nice dark impression.
Provenance: Private collection, Des Moines, Iowa.
$2,500 - $3,500