Born in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, in 1866, George Luks attended the school of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia in 1884. He spent the following ten years in Düsseldorf, Paris, and London, and may have studied in various art academies in these cities. Upon his return to the United States, Luks worked for the art department of the Philadelphia Press in 1894 and the following year traveled to Cuba as an artist-correspondent for the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin. In 1896 he joined the staff of The New York World as an illustrator and cartoonist.
While at The World, Luks renewed an earlier friendship with William Glackens and Everett Shinn. Both illustrators were also committed to painting, and Glackens encouraged Luks to experiment with the medium. By 1904 Luks was accomplished enough to exhibit with his friends at the National Arts Club in New York. Four years later he joined seven other artists under the leadership of Robert Henri in forming a group that rebelled against the academic art establishment. Known as The Eight, an exhibition of their work became a progressive force in American art, revitalizing realist painting. Throughout his career, Luks sought out working class subjects for his art. He exhibited paintings and drawings of urban life and city dwellers in the Armory Show in 1913, which showcased modern art.
Luks continued to paint and exhibit and taught for several years at the Art Students League in New York. He founded his own school and painted alongside his students until his death in 1933.Christie's November 19, 2014
GEORGE LUKS (1867-1933)
IN THE CORNER
Estimate $800,000 - $1,200,000 Price Realized $785,000
Christie's 2013
GEORGE BENJAMIN LUKS (AMERICAN, 1867-1933)
THE JOY OF LIVING
Estimate $4,000 - $6,000 Price Realized $2,250
Christie's 2012
GEORGE BENJAMIN LUKS (1867-1933)
THE WHITE CAT
Estimate $4,000 - $6,000 Price Realized $8,750
Christie's 2009
More Christie's
GEORGE LUKS (1867-1933)
WOMAN AND DOLL
Estimate $15,000 - $25,000 Price Realized $21,600
GEORGE LUKS (1867-1933)
FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK
Estimate $70,000 - $100,000 Price Realized $102,000
GEORGE LUKS (1867-1933)
MAN WITH A MONOCLE
Estimate $40,000 - $60,000 Price Realized $38,400
Market at Dawn
PRICE REALIZED
$40,000
Street Vendor
PRICE REALIZED
$7,500
GEORGE LUKS (1867-1933)
THE PAWNBROKER
Estimate $10,000 - $15,000 Price Realized $26,400
Bonhams 2011
George Benjamin Luks (American, 1867-1933)
The apple seller, 1899;
t 8 5/8 x 6in, 9 5/8 x 7in
US$ 3,000 - 5,000
Sotheby's
GEORGE BENJAMIN LUKS
PURPLE HILLS
Estimate 10,000 — 15,000 LOT SOLD. 17,500
GEORGE BENJAMIN LUKS
PORTRAIT OF A YOUNG MAN
Estimate 10,000 — 15,000 LOT SOLD. 25,000
GEORGE BENJAMIN LUKS
1867 - 1933
1867 - 1933
LILY WILLIAMS
Estimate
800,000 — 1,200,000
LOT SOLD. 1,874,500
1867-1933
THE BREAKER BOYS
Estimate
150,000 — 250,000
LOT SOLD. 170,50
- GEORGE LUKSBearded Man in a CapEstimate $6,000 - $9,000Price Realized (with Buyer's Premium) $5,280
Swann 2004
- GEORGE LUKSTwo drawings- Market Scene, Figure ProcessionEstimate $2,000 - $3,000Price Realized (with Buyer's Premium) $2,530
Swann 2003
- GEORGE LUKSCouple in a CafeEstimate $5,000 - $8,000Price Realized (with Buyer's Premium) $8,855
William Doyle
George Benjamin Luks
(American, 1867-1933)
Man and Child with Guitar, 1908 Signed and dated
Oil on canvas
28 5/8 x 29 1/2 inches
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(American, 1867-1933)
Man and Child with Guitar, 1908 Signed and dated
Oil on canvas
28 5/8 x 29 1/2 inches
More Images
