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South of Scranton

Peter Blume American, born former Russian Empire, now Belarus
1931
Not on view
South of Scranton gathers various scenes that the artist encountered during an extended road trip in spring 1930. Setting out from his residence in Pawling, New York, Blume drove through the coalfields of Scranton, Pennsylvania, and then headed south toward the steel mills of Bethlehem. Blume then traveled further south to Charleston, South Carolina, where he witnessed several sailors performing acrobatic exercises aboard the deck of a German cruiser ship in the harbor. In an account of the painting's origins, the artist stated, "As I tried to weld my impressions into the picture, they lost all their logical connections. I moved Scranton into Charleston, and Bethlehem into Scranton, as people do in a dream." Blume’s crisp technique heightens the painting’s surreal appearance.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: South of Scranton
  • Artist: Peter Blume (American (born former Russian Empire, now Belarus), Smarhon (Smorgon) 1906–1992 New Milford, Connecticut)
  • Date: 1931
  • Medium: Oil on canvas
  • Dimensions: 56 1/4 × 66 1/4 in. (142.9 × 168.3 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: George A. Hearn Fund, 1942
  • Object Number: 42.155
  • Rights and Reproduction: © Estate of Peter Blume/Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY
  • Curatorial Department: Modern and Contemporary Art

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Coal Breaker, Scranton, Peter Blume American, born former Russian Empire, now Belarus, Graphite on paper
Coal Breaker, Scranton
Peter Blume
1930
Standing Woman in Profile, Peter Blume American, born former Russian Empire, now Belarus, Pen and black ink on paper
Standing Woman in Profile
Peter Blume
1958
Study Number 5 for "Recollection of the Flood", Peter Blume American, born former Russian Empire, now Belarus, Enamel on Masonite
Study Number 5 for "Recollection of the Flood"
Peter Blume
1968
Cartoon for "Recollection of the Flood", Peter Blume American, born former Russian Empire, now Belarus, Charcoal on paper
Cartoon for "Recollection of the Flood"
Peter Blume
1968
Children in the Tree, Peter Blume American, born former Russian Empire, now Belarus, Oil on canvas
Children in the Tree
Peter Blume
1961

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