Joseph Hirsch
Encyclopedia
Joseph Hirsch was an American
painter.
Born in Philadelphia in 1910, Hirsch began his study of art at the Philadelphia Museum when he was seventeen. He also studied privately with Henry Hensche
in Provincetown and George Luks
in New York City
. In addition to formal study, Hirsch traveled extensively, including a five year stay in France
. He participated in the Works Project Administration in the easel painting division, with occasional work in the mural
division, where he painted murals in the Amalgamated Clothing Workers Building and the Municipal Court. During World War II
, Joseph Hirsch took part in the war effort as an artist war correspondent
, recording significant battles and events. He taught at the Chicago Art Institute, the American Art School, University of Utah
and had a significant tenure at the Art Students League in New York. He also won many awards, among them were a fellowship at the American Academy in Rome
, the Walter Lippincott Prize, First Prize at the New York World's Fair (1939), the Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship
(1942, 1943), and the Fulbright Fellowship (1949). Joseph Hirsch died in 1981.
Early in his career, Joseph Hirsch was introduced to the movement of Social Realism through George Luks, who was one of "The Eight". This group of painters, at the beginning of the century, chose to depict ordinary and everyday scenes. From this movement stemmed the Social Realism genre of the 1920s and 1930s. Particularly during the Great Depression
, social consciousness and commentary were important components of the movement, dictating subject matter. Social commentary was the backbone for the majority of Joseph Hirsch's paintings.
Although Social Realist painters often used specific themes, there was no specific style that all the painters followed (except realism). In his mature period, the 1960s and 1970s, Hirsch used a series of layered planes to compose the painting. Often, there are a series of two-dimensional zones in which the figures reside. Typically these planes are frontally oriented towards the viewer of the painting. Depth is suggested by layering of planes and the figures contained within, rather than through perspective. These paintings appear to be snapshots, capturing people in mid-action, not posing.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
painter.
Born in Philadelphia in 1910, Hirsch began his study of art at the Philadelphia Museum when he was seventeen. He also studied privately with Henry Hensche
Henry Hensche
Henry Hensche was an American painter and teacher. Born in Germany, Henry Hensche came to the United States by way of Antwerp, Belgium. He was ten years old when he arrived at Ellis Island aboard the British steamship S.S. Kroonland, along with his sister Erna, and his father Fred. His mother died...
in Provincetown and George Luks
George Luks
George Benjamin Luks, was an American realist artist and illustrator. His vigorously painted genre paintings of urban subjects are examples of the Ashcan school in American art.-Early life:...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. In addition to formal study, Hirsch traveled extensively, including a five year stay in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. He participated in the Works Project Administration in the easel painting division, with occasional work in the mural
Mural
A mural is any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A particularly distinguishing characteristic of mural painting is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture.-History:Murals of...
division, where he painted murals in the Amalgamated Clothing Workers Building and the Municipal Court. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Joseph Hirsch took part in the war effort as an artist war correspondent
War correspondent
A war correspondent is a journalist who covers stories firsthand from a war zone. In the 19th century they were also called Special Correspondents.-Methods:...
, recording significant battles and events. He taught at the Chicago Art Institute, the American Art School, University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
and had a significant tenure at the Art Students League in New York. He also won many awards, among them were a fellowship at the American Academy in Rome
American Academy in Rome
The American Academy in Rome is a research and arts institution located on the Gianicolo in Rome.- History :In 1893, a group of American architects, painters and sculptors met regularly while planning the fine arts section of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition...
, the Walter Lippincott Prize, First Prize at the New York World's Fair (1939), the Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship
Guggenheim Fellowship
Guggenheim Fellowships are American grants that have been awarded annually since 1925 by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation to those "who have demonstrated exceptional capacity for productive scholarship or exceptional creative ability in the arts." Each year, the foundation makes...
(1942, 1943), and the Fulbright Fellowship (1949). Joseph Hirsch died in 1981.
Early in his career, Joseph Hirsch was introduced to the movement of Social Realism through George Luks, who was one of "The Eight". This group of painters, at the beginning of the century, chose to depict ordinary and everyday scenes. From this movement stemmed the Social Realism genre of the 1920s and 1930s. Particularly during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, social consciousness and commentary were important components of the movement, dictating subject matter. Social commentary was the backbone for the majority of Joseph Hirsch's paintings.
Although Social Realist painters often used specific themes, there was no specific style that all the painters followed (except realism). In his mature period, the 1960s and 1970s, Hirsch used a series of layered planes to compose the painting. Often, there are a series of two-dimensional zones in which the figures reside. Typically these planes are frontally oriented towards the viewer of the painting. Depth is suggested by layering of planes and the figures contained within, rather than through perspective. These paintings appear to be snapshots, capturing people in mid-action, not posing.