Ferry Crossing / River Fantasy

Painting

Saugatuck Douglas Historical Society

Dec 20. after glass removed.

Name/Title

Ferry Crossing / River Fantasy

Entry/Object ID

2023.59.07

Description

The radome on Mt. Baldhead presides over an energetic depiction of the river banks with benches under shade trees, ducks, chain ferry Diane, the Ferry Store, sailboats and west side cottages. Broken glass removed from frame, artwork behind green mat with .5-inch gold-tone metal frame.

Type of Painting

On paper

Artwork Details

Medium

Watercolor, Pencil

Context

The painting was acquired from the Kit and Art Lane estate. Woman artist, Jewish Holocaust survivor, artist and educator in Kalamazoo. Lively expressive mid-20th century watercolor. Large size, framing is poor.

Collection

Artworks

Cataloged By

Winthers, Sally

Acquisition

Accession

2023.59

Source or Donor

Lakeshore Event Center/Tressa Mills

Acquisition Method

Purchase

Made/Created

Artist

Littna, Victoria 1921-1991

Date made

1980

Dimensions

Dimension Description

including frame

Height

20 in

Width

30 in

Location

Room

2nd floor gallery/conference room

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Diane (boat) Chain Ferry 1965-present, Wise Residence/515 Park/Ferry Store/Heath Shop 1917-1980s?

Interpretative Labels

Label

Victoria Marshall Littna 1885-1955 River Fantasy 1980 watercolor on paper Victoria Littna (1921-1991) was born in Argentina of British parents and studied at the Academia Superior de Bellas Artes in Buenos Aires and Goldsmiths College in London with surrealist painter Graham Sutherland. She moved to the United States in 1965 with her husband, Czech émigré lawyer and painter Francis Littna (1903- 1973). Living in Kalamazoo, she taught art at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. A 1983 Kalamazoo News profile described her as a "psychological painter" as seen in this landscape, "a patchwork-quilt of a landscape in the wild, bright colors typical of the Fauve tradition out of which her style has emerged." The scene on the Kalamazoo River in Saugatuck depicts recognizable features including the Chain Ferry "Diane" and radome atop Mt Baldhead. A trio of mallard ducks in the foreground engage us, blending realism and fantasy in this summertime watercolor. Saugatuck-Douglas History Center Lane Art Collection

General Notes

Note

2023 auction description: Undated pencil drawing with watercolor of Ferry Crossing with Mount Baldhead in the background by Victoria Littna (1921-1991). Undated, signed V. Littna. Approx. 20"x30" OA; 18"x23" SS. Piece has not been removed from frame for examination. Part of a Saugatuck/Douglas Art Collection.

Create Date

December 19, 2023

Update Date

September 3, 2024