Justin Faivre (American 1902-1990)

Decline of the Windjammers

Watercolor on paper, signed and dated: “1934” and titled in pencil on the reverse.

Sheet size: 12.5” x 18.5”
Mat size: 19.5” x 25.5”
Unframed

Justin Faivre was born in Matthews, Indiana. At the age of 5, however, he moved to Portland, Oregon . As a teenager he studied at the Portland Art Gallery and took private art lessons with Howard Ellis.

In 1923 Faivre left Portland for Los Angeles, but only a few years later moved to San Francisco. In 1934 he had his first exhibition at the Oakland Art Gallery (later to become the Oakland Museum)and continued to exhibit throughout the area. He was a member of the Hayward Art Association, Alameda Art Association, and the Society for Western Artists.

Faivre was influenced by the Society of Six and his early works included landscapes, still lifes, portraits and marine subjects in both oil and watercolor. However, his later work can be characterized as more abstract and nonrepresentational.

Faivre died at his Oakland, California home at the age of 88. Sadly, he died penniless and many of his paintings were stolen shortly before his death.

Source:

Falk. Who Was Who in American Art.
Hughes. Artists in California.
Crocker Art Museum Store.