68: THOMAS HART BENTON (1889-1975) PENCIL SIGNED LITHO

Thomas Hart Benton (1889-1975)
Slow Train Through Arkansas (1941)
The lithograph signed by the artist in pencil below the image lower right, published by Associated American Artists, New York in an edition of 250 prints, Fath number 46.

In Fath's book, Benton recalls that with this composition he recalls the days of his youth and the culture of rail travel through Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Arkansas. A joke book of the day titled 'Slow Train Through Arkansas' recounts the experience as follows: It was down in the state of Arkansas I rode on the slowest train I ever saw. It stopped at every house. When it came to a double house it stopped twice. They made so many stops I said, 'Conductor what have we stopped for now?' He said, 'There are some cattle on the track.' We ran a little ways further and stopped again. I said, 'What is the matter now?' He said, 'We have caught up with those cattle again....'.
Image size 10 x 12.5, sheet measures 12.75 x 16.75 inches.
Good condition, the complete sheet, not laid down, no damage or repair, scattered points of foxing.
$3,000 - $4,000