Henri de Kruif - Troglodyte - Color Lithograph AP1760
Signed in pencil by the artist. Broody, moody and gorgeous.
Etcher, painter, lithographer. Born in Grand Rapids, Ml on Feb. 17, 1882. Henri DeKruif began his art training at the AIC under Vanderpoel, the Holmes School of Illustration, and continued in NYC at the ASL under Frank V. DuMond, Beal, and Luis Mora. In 1903 he studied at the Hope College (Michigan) and was employed at Grand Rapids Advertising Company until 1907.
Moving to Los Angeles from the Midwest in 1911, he continued as a commercial artist with the Merril Advertising Company. During this period he studied with Stanton MacDonald-Wright while experimenting with various modern art idioms. He was active in Laguna Beach and Los Angeles until his death in the latter on July 7, 1944.
Member: LAAA; Laguna Beach AA; Calif. WC Society; Chicago Society of Etchers; Calif. Art Club; Calif. PM; Calif. Society of Etchers; Group of Eight. Exh: LACMA, 1922, 1929 (solos); LA Public Library, 1923 (solo); Cannell & Chaffin Gallery (LA), 1924; Laguna Beach AA, 1924-35; Painters & Sculptors of LA, 1925 (1st prize); Calif. PM, 1926 (bronze medal); Littles Gallery (LA), 1930; Stendahl Galleries (LA), 1936, 1939.
Collection: LACMA; San Diego Museum; Orange Co. (CA) Museum; Library of Congress; Beaumont (CA) Public Library (murals); LA Public Library. AAA 1919-33; WWAA 1936-41; Laguna Beach Museum of Art, 1918-1978; Ben; Fid; SCA; Art Digest, 8-1-1944 (obit); LA Times, 7-6-1944 (obit).