GRANDFATHER CHINA 1943. [A Color Lithographic Offset DrawingIn Chongching, 1944

[San Francisco 1968, Little]. Color lithographic print,"NEW" unused example, flawless, painted 1943, 28 x 39.5 cm.,signed in block. FIRST & ONLY RARE EDITION . *** **** *** . . . A STUNNING ARTIST'S COLOR EXAMPLE OF . . . THE STOIC CHINESE DURING WORLD WAR 2 . . . DEPICTS A CHINESE GRANDFATHER WITH HIS FAMILY . . . TOILING ON THEIR FARM NEAR CHONGCHING,1943 . * THE ARTIST -TOM LEA: 1907-2001: Lea was a Texas born artist who drew Texas cowboys, Mexican and American Indian subjects. He was unknown to the rest of the world. . In 1941, Lea was appointed by Life Magazine to be a war correspondent and artist. He was assigned go out into World War 2 among American military forces to paint and sketch dramatic scenes of the war. He visited many theaters of war in Europe and Asia from 1941-1945. His artistic works have been recognized as some of the most important and expressive examples of the brutality of war and the beauty of the places subject to Japanese and German dominance. His works have been displayed nationally. He is a celebrated United States Military artist. . While in China he sketched famous people: General Channel, Madame Chiang Kai-shek and her husband Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek [Jiang Jieshi], also many stunning views of China. . Lea went to China in late 1943, returning in early 1944. His suburb drawings have remained in his private collection unpublished until 1968. In that year he published a number of these historic and incredible examples. . Tom Lea traveled to Kunming, Guilin and Chongqing [Chongqing] in October, 1943. In each place he sought out typical Chinese scenes that would depict the plight of the people. . His stunning drawing of war-torn China, its beleaguered people and their struggle to survive under Japanese bombing and domination. A superb record of Chinese history and posterity, during World War 2. . *** THE PRINT: "THE CHINESE GRANDFATHER:" Drawn along the Yangtze river near Chongking [Chongqing Chongqing] in November 1943. ., This color gouache shows a grandfather, with a worn and lined face, gazing off into the distance. In the background is his son who tends the water buffalo pulling a large millstone, grinding grain. The grandson carries a hoe on his shoulder looking at his calloused hands. The rice paddies in background full of water and young plants. The mountains in the distant background, along the Yangtze river and fog. . Executed in color gouache. a fine example, published for the first time in 1968, to commemorate his World War 2 drawings and paintings while on journalist assignment to China in the fall of 1943. . *** NOTE: Color scans are posted to our website. . We have others by Tom Lea on the trip to China he made in 1944 also posted to our website. . *** Color photos are posted to our website. . *** REFERENCES: . Color illustrated article in LIFE Magazine, July, 1944, pp.62-66. including this exact color print: "GRANDFATHER CHINA," 1943, among several other Lea did while sketching and painting in China winter 1943 during World War 2. . * For more on Tom Lea see Wikipedia and also Tom Lea dot com /the-artist/historical-photographs/the institute devoted to his works. . *.…