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

Thomas Hart Benton (1889-1975)
Investigation (1937)
The lithograph published by Associated American Artists in an edition of 193 prints on Rives watermark paper is signed by Benton in pencil below the image lower right and listed in the artist's catalog raisonne as Fath number 17.

Benton's comments in Fath read: 'Drawing of the flood of '37 - Ohio & Mississippi were commissioned by Kansas City Star and St. Louis Post Dispatch. The area - Southeast Missouri, sometimes call Swamp East, and Bootheel. The lithograph, originally called 'Investigation' was made from one of the '37 flood drawings.'
Image measures 10 x 13 on a 12 x 14.75 inch sheet with an overall frame size of 17 x 19.5 inches.
Good to very good condition, the full untrimmed sheet with narrow margins having deckle edge, not laid down, no damage, punctures, tears or repair, toning in the margins as shown in the online images, paper tape along the upper edge back side, a square of paper on the face of the sheet upper right and left corners, none visible when framed behind the mat.
$2,000 - $2,500