T. Lux Feininger

Steamer "Shady Side"

Repro: A22

1939, in New York, 118 Perry St.
Oil on canvas
Size not known
Inscr. lower right: Lux

TLF: "Steamer 'Shady Side'", 1940 [sic] [101]; "Steamer 'Shady Side'", 1939 New York [102, Nr. 232]

Whereabouts not known
Provenance: 1939 studio sale or wedding present to Lincoln and Fidelma Kirstein, New York
TLF: "I saw, walking on the banks of the East River that summer [during the New York World Fair, 1939], an inspiring spectacle: The white and beautiful sidewheeler “Robert Fulton” with three tall smokestacks abreast, billowing under smoke into the amber sunset light... It started me off to paint “steamers” instead of “sailing ships”; a nothing, a trifle to the bystander but of the utmost importance to me. ... I “learned steamers” the way I had learned, when just twelve years old, sailing ships... It is this sort of experience that makes me say that “I don’t choose my subjects but they choose me”. ... But when “they” leave you – as they do – it is irremedial." [105]

"Shady Side” ... [was] amongst the first works in the new place. ... Lincoln Kirstein became the owner of Shady Side. ... I was modestly prospering at this time, despite the loss of Gallery representation." [105]
Themes: Ships-Sails, Ships-Steamer