Arbit Blatas, Lithuanian, Jewish, American, 1908 to 1999, oil on canvas portrait painting Stephen, 1943. Signed and dated lower right. An Associated American Artists Inc. and New Art Center Gallery NY labels on verso. Provenance: Associated American Artists, New York (gallery label on verso); Private Collection, New York (acquired from the above in 1951); Christie's New York sale April 2, 2015. Lot 110. Sold for $4750. Exhibited: Chicago, Art Institute of Chicago, 60th Annual American Exhibition, 25 October - 16 December, 1951. Note: Born in Lithuania, Arbit Blatas was a painter, sculptor and stage designer who settled in New York City. He studied in Paris at the Academie de la Grande Chaumiere and the Academie Julian and was a member of the Salon d Automne where he also exhibited. In 1928 he joined the avant-garde School of Paris along with Picasso, Matisse, Brague, Vlaminck, Utrillo and Soutine. After the Second World War he immigrated to New York. Today his works are kept in most of the major museums all over the world including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Museum of Modern Art, New York, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, Museum of the City of New York, National Portrait Gallery, the Smithsonian Institution, Carnegie Institute, Pittsburgh, Rochester Museum, Virginia Museum; Delgado Museum, New Orleans, Palm Springs Desert Museum; Wichita Art Museum, Jeu de Paume, Paris, Le Centre Pompidou, Paris, Musee Bourdelle, Paris, Musee de Boulogne, Musee de Ceret, Musee de Grenoble, The Renee and Chaim Gross Foundation and many private collections as well. One of a kind artwork. Mid Century Fine Art, Portrait Paintings And Wall Decor Collectibles.