Important 1931 Paul Kelpe Self Portrait Pencil Drawing SIGNED American Modernist

This listing is for “Self-portrait”, 1931 by Paul Kelpe (American, 1902-1985) pictured above. About this work:An excellent original self-portrait drawing by important American artist Paul Kelpe (1902-1985).This early example of Kelpe’s work reflects his desire and struggle to produce abstract work in the early 1930s. Kelpe was seen as a bit of an anomaly because of his commitment to abstract art while the Chicago art scene was still firmly centered on Realism. His murals for the Federal Art Project were criticized for being too abstract in style, despite being representational. In this work, he grapples with the struggle to break away from the purely realist style encouraged by his critics.The work depicts Kelpe at bust length in an unusual abstracted figurative style. He wears large circular glasses and a simple, tunic-like top. His facial features are sharply defined in exaggerated geometric shapes.The Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. owns a similar self-port