Painting

Houses Along The Delaware River Near Claymont

Depicts how differences in race and wealth overlap (or "intersect") in Delaware, from the perspective of a Black artist.

Painting of three houses by Edward L. Loper Sr., a prominent Black artist from Delaware, depicting a string of three houses along the Delaware River near Claymont. The houses look fancy, like they are owned by upper-class families. But they look to be on the "other side of the tracks" from the artist.

Edward L. Loper, Sr. began working as an artist in the 1930s with the WPA. He initially taught himself to paint through studying at the Wilmington Public Library and regularly visiting the Philadelphia Museum of Art. After the WPA, he was not a full-time artist until 1947, when he left his job at a tanning factory. This painting is dated to the early period in his career as an independent artist, before he developed what is considered his signature style of bright, colorful cubism.

ca. 1948-1950

1940s, 1950s

near Claymont, New Castle County, Delaware

Delaware River
Claymont, Delaware
African American Art
Black Art
Edward L. Loper, Sr.

Edward L. Loper, Sr.

Physical:
Stretcher Height: 25" (63.50 cm); Stretcher Width: 30" (76.20 cm); Frame Height: 31" (78.74 cm); Frame Width: 41" (104.14 cm)

Digital: 400x322 px

Oil on canvas

Dr. Norman Cannon (1913-2000), an amateur artist and former art student of Edward Loper, Sr., purchased this piece in 1977. (Provenance information from Janne Cannon, 2013--in donor file)

Artstor, UD Museums: Art-- African American

https://library-artstor-org.udel.idm.oclc.org/#/asset/29344544

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Artifacts of Family Life