AMERICAN SCHOOL (20th Century). Parade on York Avenue, May 25, 1918. Oil on canvas. 16 x 11-1/4 inches (40.6 x 28.6 cm)...

Description

AMERICAN SCHOOL (20th Century)
Parade on York Avenue, May 25, 1918
Oil on canvas
16 x 11-1/4 inches (40.6 x 28.6 cm)
Signed indistinctly and dated lower left: F. F...ct / 25/5 1918
Inscribed by the artist (verso) in Czech, which in translation reads: Parade of Czecho-Slovaks in New-York on May 25, 1918 to welcome Professor T[omas]. G[arrigue]. Masaryk (33 up from Ave. A.)

The present work depicts a parade on York Avenue near the Bohemian National Hall in May of 1918 to welcome Professor Tomas Garrigue Masaryk, the future first President of the independent republic of Czechoslovakia, which was formed in November of the same year. The red and white flags flying alongside the American flag are the original flag for the Czechoslovakian region, which was used until 1920 when the flag was redesigned. Early in 1918 Masaryk had traveled to the United States to convince President Woodrow Wilson to support the cause of Czechoslovak independence from the Austro-Hungarian empire. Prior to this parade in New York on May 25th, Masaryk was in Chicago, which boasted the largest Czech immigrant population in the United States, and where an enormous parade also welcomed him on May 5th. In the present work, the Bohemian National Hall, the major Czech social club in New York, is the building on the right side of the street with the blond stone facade and pronounced cornice.



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