Protest!
Louis Schanker was involved in many of the protest movements in the art world during the mid 20th century.  "The Ten" was a group which protested the realist tendencies of the Whitney Museum of Art in New York during the 1930's. He was also a founding member of the American Abstract Artists and a member of Associated American Artists, the Federation of Modern Painters and Sculptors, The Graphic Circle, and the International  Graphical Arts Society, New York Artists and Painters, Many of these artist groups attempted to gain legitimacy for "modern" or "abstract" and then "expressionist" art. They frequently had strong political links, others were more social and economic.   I was one of the group who picketed the Whitney Museum, the Whitney dissenters, in 1936.  And I picketed the Modern Museum with the American Abstract Artists in the thirties, too. [Re:Artists Union] We used to picket and get chased by the cops. I was arrested and brought to court,  -- this was in the late thirties,  -- and we all gave names to the clerk, -- Pablo Picasso, Michelangelo, Cezanne. He put all the names in the court record. It would be wonderful to see that record today.                                        [ Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, Parsons Interview, 1967]
*click to enlarge any image
During the 30's and early 40's artists were fighting for their rights in the government run WPA. Below, on the left, is one of the photos in Schanker's personal collection.  Schanker's experiences on the streets of New York during this era are reflected in his work.
Cops and Pickets woodblock print, 1939, 10.5" X 14.5"		Cops and Pickets  oil,  1933, 36" X 28"
Cop and Picket woodblock print, 1939, 11" X 8.5"		Labor pencil sketch,©1933, 11" X 8.5"
	clippings WPA 1920s-30s, AAA, The Ten,  Atelier 17
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