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

Thomas Hart Benton (1889-1975)
Forward Pass (1972)
The lithograph published by Associated American Artists in an edition of 250 prints is signed by Benton in pencil below the image lower right and listed in the artist's catalog raisonne as Fath number 85.



Benton's comments in Fath read: I have an overgrown crony in Kansas City named Dutt who is a football fan with a box at the Kansas City football stadium. He is six foot seven inches tall and therefore a real matching companion. One October afternoon he took me to see the Kansas City Chiefs play. I had never seen a 'pro' football game and I was fascinated with the spectacle and with the game itself. Using Dutts influence (he has a lot of that in K.C.) I got permission to attend the Chiefs practice sessions where I could get a close-up view of football actions. I made sketches there and from there a sculpture in bronze. The litho was made from the sculpture. P.S. I am five foot three inches.
Image measures 13 x 19.75 on a 18.5 x 25 inch sheet with an overall frame size of 21 x 27.75 inches.
Very good condition, the full untrimmed sheet with deckle edges, not laid down, no damage, stain, punctures, tears or repair, the front top edge with four short strips of paper tape on the face of the sheet, framed to archival standards in acid free mounts.
$4,000 - $6,000