DE ERDELY, Francis

1956

Pastel on paper

22 x 15"

A former prize-fighter, Hungarian immigrant Francis De Erdely was known for his unusually robust figures, often exaggerated to describe the underlying muscular system of the human body. The well-defined contours of the fishermen illustrate this interest, as well as the artists tendency to portray toiling laborers and fellow immigrant minorities. An underlying thread of social commentary is apparent throughout De Erdelys body of work, from his early depictions of World War II atrocities in Hungary, to his insightful observations of marginal populations in Los Angeles in the forties and fifties. Along with his contemporary, Rico Lebrun, whose work is also on view here, De Erdely was a friend of the Colins family, and even drew a portrait of J.W. as a young man.

1956

DE ERDELY, Francis

United States, b. Hungary, 1904-1959

Gift of Drs. J.W. and Sue Colin

2012.001.004