“Josef Presser, born April 18, 1909 in Lublin, Poland immigrated to Boston, MA in 1913 and at the age of 12 was admitted into the Boston Museum School of Art on a four-year scholarship. Being the youngest student ever admitted to the program indicated how much talent he already possessed.” (1)
“After completing his education, he spent several years traveling in Europe and visited the major museums of France, Italy, and Belgium before returning to America in 1931.” (2)
“[He studied in Europe] with Bryant Baker, Henry Hunt Clark, Philip Hale, and William James.” (3)
“Presser’s boundless curiosity led him to Europe in the late 20’s, signing on as a crew member of a freighter, jumping ship in Hamburg, and working on horse-drawn canal barges in Belgium and France and with small traveling circuses.” (4)
“Upon his return to America in 1931, he settled into his studio in Philadelphia, PA where his concern for the poor and socially deprived grew with the urgency of the Great Depression.” (5)
“By the mid-1930s, Presser was exhibiting regularly in solo shows in Philadelphia and had began accepting teaching positions. While lecturing at Iowa State University, Presser met his future wife and artist, Agnes Hart, who he married in 1941.” (2)
“They lived and worked in a loft over bustling 14th Street at Union Square. He painted prodigiously, often paying off bar tabs and butchers with a painting, a quickly drawn portrait.” (4)
“The couple bought a number of summer studios in Woodstock, NY, and became members of the Maverick Artist Colony and the Woodstock Artists Association.” (5)
“He was a member of the Philadelphia Watercolor Club and the New Haven Paint and Clay Club and exhibited at the Carnegie Institute, Pittsburgh, The Art Institute of Chicago, The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. His work is in many museum collections, both here and abroad, including the Uffizi, Florence, The Whitney Museum of American Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Philadelphia Art Alliance, Philadelphia.” (3)
“Presser continued to paint and teach until 1964, when he returned to Europe, to live and paint in Paris, France. He died 3 years later.” (1)
Reference
1.
Arthur Erickson Staff. Artist: Josef Presser [internet]. 1030 SW Taylor St Portland, OR 97205: 2019 [cited 2019 Aug 8]. Available from: https://arthurwerickson.com/blogs/news/artist-biography-josef-presser
2.
Archives of American Art Staff. Josef Presser and Agnes Hart papers, 1913-1980, bulk 1940-1980 [internet]. 2019 [cited 2019 Aug 8]. Available from: https://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/josef-presser-and-agnes-hart-papers-8949/biographical-note
3.
Askart Staff. Biography Josef Presser [internet]. [cited 2019 Aug 8]. Available from: http://www.askart.com/artist_bio/Josef_Presser/27124/Josef_Presser.aspx
4.
Ro Gallery Staff. Josef Presser, Polish/American (1907-1967) [internet]. Long Island City, NY: 2019 [cited 2019 Aug 8]. Available from: https://www.rogallery.com/Presser_Josef/presser-biography.html
5.
Zorya Fine Art Staff. Presser, Josef [internet]. 2019 [cited 2019 Aug 8]. Available from: https://www.zoryafineart.com/artists/114/josef--presser