American, 1916-2006

Albert Gold’s three years as a WWII combat artist would certainly have contributed to the earthy realism of his art. In his writings he mentions that the war was as important in his artistic development as the Great Depression had been. He was already well-known for his depictions of ordinary Americans in their everyday lives, often devastated by the Great Depression. He portrayed unemployed and helpless men, tenement life, circus scenes, people at lunch counters, at ethnic markets or the zoo in his hometown of Philadelphia. In 1942, just before he was drafted into the Army, he was awarded the prestigious Prix de Rome by the American Academy in Rome, and he quickly became one of only three artists covering the European theater. In 1945, he returned to Philadelphia and his role as teacher, illustrator and artist.

Awards
1942 Prix de Rome