LEVON WEST Signed Etching

LEVON WEST Signed Etching, signature to lower right reads ‘Levon West 1928’, edition number to lower left reads ‘22/100’, label tor reverse reads ‘J.Pocket & Son’, subject a sailboat with woods and cabin in the background, black and gold toned wood frame, surface wear to frame, professionally framed and double matted in beige, not examined out of frame. Framed measurements 14 1/2 in by 19 1/2 in. Image size 8 in by 13 in.West graduated from high school in Harvey, North Dakota as valedictorian and graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1924. He wanted to take almost entirely art courses but his father insisted that he major in business administration. West served in the U.S Navy during WWI. While in New York studying at the Art Students’ League and with etcher Joseph Pennell , he formed an aviation corporation with friends. They serviced planes at Roosevelt Field on Long Island. One day he noticed a different type of plane and did sketches of it. This plane belonged to Charles Lindberg. When West heard Lindberg flew the Spirit of St. Louis on a record breaking trans-Atlantic flight, he hurriedly did an etching from his sketches and took it to the New York Times. The paper asked how much he wanted for it and he said, “I don’t care how much I get for it, but put my name on it good and big at the bottom.” When the newspaper came out with his etching on the front page demand for his work followed. He was contacted by the Kennedy Galleries in New York the following day. This led to a series of successful etchings and national prominence. (Annex Galleries)Artwork, wall art, home decor, wall decor, home furnishing, gilt frame, etching, American artists, Armenian American artist, Armenian artist, 20th century art, vintage etching, vintage artwork, 5