RSW's Diary Comments

Pale Winter Sun, sepia print

"Painted 1947. Winter window picture (painted in April) of my studio desk corner, the edge of the blue wall-desk showing to the right and the studio glass desk lamp and shade, prominent in the center (blue-blotter not showing). Sold June, 1950, to Grand Central Art Galleries for 1950 Founders Show."

Editor's Note on the Founders' Show:

Held annually, the board of directors of the Grand Central Art Galleries, typically a number of the top artist of the day, would hold an annual event honoring the association's founders. The Board, acting as a jury, selected specific pieces from a large stable of artists in the organization. The group would buy the painting from the artist to sell for their own earnings. It is technically a gallery fund raiser. As such, they were quite selective as to what they bought because if the painting did not sell, they would be saddled with the cost - the artist already got paid.

Woodward's signature from the painting

According to our records, this painting would be the last painting to be part of the GCAG's Founders' Show. Woodward would retire two years later. Woodward held the GCAG in high regard, first for what they represented. Second, for all of the prestigious artist and industrialist that founded the association, and finally, for inviting him and giving him his first One-man show after years of being blackballed by William Macbeth and his Gallery for his 1922 Redgate fire.

The Southwick Studio Desk corner in the 1940s.
You can see the desk lamp that appears in the image.

The corner windows from the outside today.
The lamp shade survived but the lamp is gone.

A special thanks to this painting's owner for contacting us and sending such a high quality image. Much THANKS.