Dehn, Adolf, 1895-1968

Variant names

Hide Profile

Painter, printmaker; New York, N.Y.

From the description of Adolf Dehn letters, [ca. 1932-1987]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122355167

Painter, lithographer (New York, N.Y.).

From the description of Adolf Dehn interviews, 1963 Jan. 23-1964 Feb. 29. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 220179288

Artist; was a concientious objector in World War I, performed alternative service at Camp Wadsworth, Spartanburg, S.C., the bulk of this correspondence was written during this period (1918-1919) and descibes the camp life and work of C.O.s; also includes some later correspondence (1921-1923) from Dehn when he was living and working as an artist in Europe.

From the description of Correspondence with Wanda Gág, 1915-1943. (University of Pennsylvania Library). WorldCat record id: 63644208

Painter, lithographer; New York, N.Y.

From the description of Oral history interview with Adolf Dehn, 1963 Jan. 23-1964 Feb. 29 [sound recording]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 312024849

Painter, printmaker; New York, N.Y.

Married Russian dancer Mura, in 1929, and Virginia, an artist, in 1947.

From the description of Adolf and Virginia Dehn and Dehn family papers, 1912-1981. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122502441

Painter, printmaker; New York, N.Y.

Married Russian dancer Mura, in 1929, and Virginia, an artist, in 1947.

From the description of Adolf and Virginia Dehn papers, 1912-1981. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 276394030

Adolf Dehn (1895-1968) was a painter and printmaker, in New York, N.Y.

Married Russian dancer Mura, in 1929, and Virginia, an artist, in 1947.

From the description of Adolf Dehn papers, 1912-1987. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 710018175

Painter, printmaker; New York, N.Y.

Married Russian dancer Mura, in 1929, and Virginia, an artist, in 1947.

From the description of Adolf and Virginia Dehn papers, 1912-1981. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 458409509

Adolf Dehn (1895-1968) was well-known for his drawings, lithographs and watercolors which satirically chronicled the social and political milieu of his times, as well as poetic landscapes, many of which depicted the rolling hills and farmlands of his native Midwest. Although he worked mostly in New York, Dehn also spent substantial time traveling and working in Europe, the Middle East, South America, and the American mid-west.

Dehn was born on a farm in Waterville, Minnesota on November 22, 1895, he began his formal art education in 1914 at the Minneapolis School of Art (currently known as the Minneapolis College of Art and Design). As a student, his drawings were featured in the school's humor journal, The Minne-Ha-Ha and by 1917 he had published his first drawing in one of his favorite political journals, The Masses . Later that year he and fellow Minneapolis School of Art student Wanda Gág were among a select group of art students nationwide who won scholarships to the Art Students League of New York. After only eight months in New York, however, Dehn was drafted into the Army to serve in the final months of World War I, but he proclaimed himself as a conscientious objector and was sent to Camp Wadsworth in South Carolina for several months.

Dehn returned to New York, where his friend and mentor Boardman Robinson introduced him to lithography through the master printer George Miller and brought him to the Wehye Gallery to meet Carl Zigrosser, an avid supporter of American printmakers. However, he soon left New York for Europe in September 1921 where he spent most of the following eight years. There he traveled with his sketchbooks to the cafes and opera houses of Berlin, Paris, and Vienna, as well as on hiking trips in the Alps. He became friends with the poet E.E. Cummings, Scofield Thayer, editor of The Dial, who published many of his drawings, and met the German artist, George Grosz, whose work he so admired. In addition to The Dial, his satirical drawings of jazz-age entertainments and European cafe life also appeared in, The Liberator, Jugend, Vanity Fair, and Simplicissimus . Finally during his stint in Europe, Dehn met and married the Russian dancer Mura Tsiperovitch. They were married in Vienna in 1926, but divorced sometime in the early 1930s.

Unfortunately Dehn's return to the United States coincided with the Great Depression of 1929 and sales of his work were slim. However in the 1930s, The New Yorker and Vogue began to publish his work. He continued to work in lithography and returned to Paris to work at the Atelier Desjobert, the print studio with whom he worked most closely throughout his life. In the late 1930s, Dehn began working in watercolors, mostly rural landscapes, and had a one man show of works in his new medium at Wehye Gallery in 1938. In 1939 Dehn traveled through the Southwest and Mexico on his first Guggenheim Fellowship (he was awarded his second in 1951).

By the 1940s Dehn was an active member of both the American Artists Group and Associated American Artists; both organizations sought to popularize contemporary American Art, primarily through reproductions of fine art prints and commercial use of artists' designs on greeting card, calendars, and even wall paper. Appreciation for his lithographs and watercolors grew, and along with it his recognition. He also taught art classes a few summers; in the late 1930s at Stephens College, Columbia, Missouri where his friend Albert Janner-Christ was head of the art department and in the early 1940s at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, where friend and mentor Boardman Robinson was the director. In 1955 he published Watercolor, Gouache, and Casein Painting, a manual on technique. Throughout the rest of his life he continued to travel, not only returning to Europe, but also visiting Afganistan, Cuba, Haiti, and a trip to Venuzuala on assignment from Standard Oil to document the oil industry there. On many of his later trips, he was accompanied by his wife, fellow artist, Virginia Engleman Dehn, whom he had married in November 1947.

Near the end of his long career, Dehn was elected in 1961 to the National Academy of Design as a full academician. He was later elected to the National Academy of Arts and Letters. After his death in 1968, his wife Virginia worked with the University of Missouri Press on the catalog Adolf Dehn Drawings (Columbia: University of Missouri, 1971).

From the guide to the Adolf Dehn papers, 1912-1987, (Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Woodstock artists oral interviews, 1968-1985. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Dehn, Adolf, 1895-. Correspondence with Theodore Dreiser, 1931. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Elizabeth S. Navas papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Dos Passos, John, 1896-1970. Art collected by John Dos Passos [manuscript]. 1912-1962. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Dehn, Adolf, 1895-1968. Adolf Arthur Dehn : artist file : study photographs and reproductions of works of art with accompanying documentation 1930?-1990 [graphic] [compiled by staff of The Museum of Modern Art, New York]. Frick Art Reference Library of The Frick Collection
referencedIn Minneapolis Institute of Arts. Correspondence with Carl Zigrosser, 1927-1971. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf New Britain Museum of American Art records Archives of American Art
referencedIn Sinclair Lewis papers, 1866-1964, 1910-1950 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn J. B. Matthews Papers, 1862-1986 and undated David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
referencedIn Associated American Artists Records, 1916-1974 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
referencedIn Dehn, Adolf Arthur, 1895-1968 : [miscellaneous ephemeral material]. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
creatorOf Saltzman, William, 1916-. William Saltzman papers, 1925, 1936-1994 (bulk 1950-1969). Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
creatorOf Lewis, Sinclair, 1885-1951. Sinclair Lewis papers, 1866-1964 (bulk 1910-1950). Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn University of Missouri Press. Correspondence with Carl Zigrosser, 1970. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Friedman, Philip Allan. Correspondence to Philip Allan Friedman, 1952-1953. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf McKay, Claude, 1890-1948. Letters, 1964-1967. Temple University, Blockson Afro-American History Collection
referencedIn Dehn, Virginia. Correspondence with Carl Zigrosser, 1968-1971. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Ruellan, Andrée, 1905-2006. Correspondence with Carl Zigrosser, 1928-1971, n.d. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn George Biddle Papers, 1863-1973, (bulk 1916-1973) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Milch Gallery records Archives of American Art
referencedIn Powell, Dawn. Dawn Powell Papers, 1910-1998. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Castellón, Federico. Correspondence with Carl Zigrosser, 1933-1971, n.d. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Dehn, Mura, 1902-1987. Miscellaneous manuscripts. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Burnham, Cora. Correspondence with Carl Zigrosser, 1956. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Dehn, Adolf, 1895-1968. Correspondence with Carl Zigrosser, 1916-1969, n.d. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Selections from the Philadelphia Museum of Art's Archives of American Art collection Archives of American Art
creatorOf Dehn, Adolf, 1895-1968. Letter, 1935, to Lewis Mumford. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Terese Tarlton Hershey papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Dehn, Adolf, 1895-1968. Correspondence with Wanda Gág, 1915-1943. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Aaron Bohrod Papers, 1932-1963 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
referencedIn Carl Zigrosser papers University of Pennsylvania Library
referencedIn Federal Art Project, Photographic Division collection Archives of American Art
referencedIn Dial/Scofield Thayer papers, 1879-1982, 1920-1925 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Dehn, Adolf : Biographical file. Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center
referencedIn Fuller, Mary. Correspondence with Carl Zigrosser, 1972. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Stewart, Thusnelda Gág, 1897-1973. Correspondence with Wanda Gág, 1918-1945. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Chapman, Hugh,. Art prints. Haverford College Library
creatorOf American Artists Group. Correspondence with Carl Zigrosser, 1936-1957, n.d. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Woodstock artists oral history collection, 1962-1975. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Martyl Langsdorf papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Adolf Dehn papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Will Barnet papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Bethers, Ray, 1902-. Ray Bethers papers, 1949-1950. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Pamphlets relating to artists in Minnesota, 1890- Minnesota Historical Society Library
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Oral history interview with Adolf Dehn Archives of American Art
Relation Name
associatedWith Adams, Clinton, 1918- person
associatedWith American Artists Group. corporateBody
associatedWith Arms, John Taylor, 1887-1953. person
associatedWith Associated American Artists. corporateBody
associatedWith Atelier Desjobert. corporateBody
associatedWith Atelier Desjobert (Paris). corporateBody
associatedWith Barnet, Will, 1911- person
associatedWith Bethers, Ray, 1902- person
associatedWith Biddle, George, 1885-1973. person
associatedWith Blanch, Arnold, 1896-1968. person
associatedWith Blanch, Lucile, 1895-1981. person
associatedWith Bohrod, Aaron person
associatedWith Bohrod, Aaron. person
associatedWith Burnham, Cora. person
associatedWith Canaday, Milton. person
associatedWith Castellón, Federico. person
associatedWith Castellón, Federico, 1914-1971. person
associatedWith Catellón, Federico. person
associatedWith Chapman, Hugh, person
associatedWith Christ-Janer, Albert, 1910-1973. person
associatedWith Dehn family. family
associatedWith Dehn family. family
associatedWith Dehn family. family
associatedWith Dehn, Mura. person
associatedWith Dehn, Mura, 1902-1987. person
associatedWith Dehn, Virginia. person
associatedWith Dorr, Carl. person
associatedWith Dos Passos, John, 1896-1970. person
associatedWith Eastman, Max, 1883-1969. person
associatedWith Engle, Margaret D. person
associatedWith Fiene, Ernest. person
associatedWith Flannagan, John Bernard, 1895?-1942. person
associatedWith Fortess, Karl. corporateBody
associatedWith Fortess, Karl E. (Karl Eugene), 1907- person
associatedWith Freeman, Joseph person
associatedWith Freeman, Joseph. person
associatedWith Friedman, Philip Allan. person
associatedWith Fuller, Mary. person
associatedWith Gág, Flavia. person
associatedWith Gág, Howard. person
associatedWith Gág, Wanda, 1893-1946. person
associatedWith Gentle, Esther, 1900- person
associatedWith Goetsch, Gustav F. (Gustav Frederick), 1877-1969. person
associatedWith Grosz, George, 1893-1959. person
associatedWith Hayter, Stanley William, 1901-1988. person
associatedWith Hershey, Terese Tarlton. person
associatedWith Hirsch, Joseph, 1910- person
associatedWith Howland, Isabella, 1895-1974. person
associatedWith Hunter, Russell Vernon, 1900-1955. person
associatedWith Kennedy Galleries. corporateBody
associatedWith Kertész, André person
associatedWith Kertész, André person
associatedWith Kuh, Frederick, 1895-1978. person
associatedWith Lake, Eileen Hall person
associatedWith Lake, Eileen Hall. person
associatedWith Lewis, Sinclair, 1885-1951. person
associatedWith Marsh, Reginald, 1898-1954. person
associatedWith Martyl, 1918- person
associatedWith Matthews, J. B. (Joseph Brown), 1894-1966 person
associatedWith McKay, Claude, 1890-1948. person
associatedWith Milch Gallery. corporateBody
associatedWith Minneapolis Institute of Arts. corporateBody
associatedWith Mitchell, Olivia Dehn person
associatedWith Mitchell, Olivia Dehn. person
associatedWith Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Navas, Elizabeth S., 1885-1979. person
associatedWith New Britain Museum of American Art. corporateBody
associatedWith Olds, Elizabeth, 1896-1991. person
associatedWith Philadelphia Museum of Art. corporateBody
associatedWith Powell, Dawn. person
associatedWith Rattner, Abraham. person
associatedWith Robinson, Boardman, 1876-1952. person
associatedWith Ruellan, Andrée, 1905-2006. person
associatedWith Saltzman, William, 1916-. person
associatedWith Schiff, John. person
associatedWith Schmeckebier, Laurence Eli, 1906- person
associatedWith Schniewind, Carl Oscar, 1900-1957. person
associatedWith Schreiber, Georges, 1904- person
associatedWith Seckler, Dorothy Gees, 1910- person
associatedWith Shane, Fred, 1906- person
associatedWith Smith, William Arthur, 1918-1989. person
associatedWith Spruance, Benton, 1904-1967. person
associatedWith Stewart, Thusnelda Gág, 1897-1973. person
associatedWith Thayer, Scofield, b. 1889. person
associatedWith Tiala, Viola Dehn. person
associatedWith Treat, Asta Gág. person
associatedWith University of Missouri Press. corporateBody
associatedWith Walker, Hudson D. (Hudson Dean), 1907-1976. person
associatedWith Ward, Lynd, 1905-1985. person
associatedWith Wehye Gallery corporateBody
associatedWith Wehye Gallery. corporateBody
associatedWith Wickey, Harry. person
associatedWith Yavno, Max. person
associatedWith Zigrosser, Carl, 1891-1975. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
New York (State)--New York
New York (State)
New York (State)--New York
New York (State)
New York (State)--New York
New York (State)--New York
New York (State)--New York
New York (State)--New York
New York (State)--New York
Subject
Art, American
Art
Graphic arts
Graphic arts
Lithographers
Painters
Painters
Painters
Painting
Printmakers
Printmakers
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1895

Death 1968

Americans

Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6s46pv3

Ark ID: w6s46pv3

SNAC ID: 7900869