The MLP Arena
Pony Talk => Off Topic => Topic started by: MerryAnvil on May 29, 2018, 11:53:57 AM
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I had my eye on this painting for a good month, but finally decided to get it today. It's a beautiful silk painting, and it was in a booth with mostly 1930's and 40's memorabilia.
I'm faced with an unfortunate dilemma though; I had hoped the artist had left a signature or something on the back of the silk somewhere, but there are no signatures or any other writing on the back that I can see. I haven't tried taking the tape off since I don't want to damage the silk. All I know is that it was apparently a painting of a WWII soldier. I'm extremely curious now. I'm a member of a couple war memorabilia forums so I'm thinking of posting pictures there to see if anyone recognizes it. It could just be from a local artist, of course, and it's unlikely I'll be able to find much on it, but it's so lovely and I'd like to try and find out more about the artist and perhaps even who the soldier in the painting is.
Either way, there's something very striking about it. I like it a lot.
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Oh wow, I've never seen anything like it!
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Oh wow, I've never seen anything like it!
Me neither! It's so lovely (and it was only $20.00; this booth is extremely low with their prices, my mom got an 1896 book in near-perfect condition for $12.00 last week from it). I've tried a couple searches online but the only WWII silk paintings I can seem to find are Japanese in origin. Definitely will have to spend some quality time doing research, possibly visit some art/war museums and see if I can find anything on it.
I really love finding unique things like this and trying to find the backstories, I can't wait to begin my hunt for information!
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Ooh! Pretty! It’s a mystery worth solving. I too would like to find who made this or who the guy in the picture is. He has to have some kind of name, being in ww2 and all. Keep us posted!
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Ooh! Pretty! It’s a mystery worth solving. I too would like to find who made this or who the guy in the picture is. He has to have some kind of name, being in ww2 and all. Keep us posted!
Definitely, will do!
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https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/151220160915-american-pow-wwii-hero-saves-jewish-comrades-liebermann-pkg-00000408-exlarge-169.jpg i almost wanna say its this guy but ... i don't know
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Looks like it could be your mystery soldier Dakota. Nice job Kestral.
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https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/151220160915-american-pow-wwii-hero-saves-jewish-comrades-liebermann-pkg-00000408-exlarge-169.jpg i almost wanna say its this guy but ... i don't know
Personally, I'm thinking it's not the same guy. His eyes are way too different.
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https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/151220160915-american-pow-wwii-hero-saves-jewish-comrades-liebermann-pkg-00000408-exlarge-169.jpg i almost wanna say its this guy but ... i don't know
Personally, I'm thinking it's not the same guy. His eyes are way too different.
I'm inclined to agree, northstar. There are some similarities but I don't think it's the same guy. Thanks, though, kestral! I do have a lead, however. I found a similar silk painting on an auction site that was actually done by a Japanese artist in occupied Japan in 1950, depicting a Navy sailor. It's possible this one was done in a similar fashion.
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I think social media is the way for you to go with this one. Good luck on your search!
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That's beautiful! Best of luck!
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Hey guys! Got an awesome update on this whole thing.
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I noticed a dark spot on his shoulder while I was looking over the photos I took yesterday, and decided to try carefully prying the painting up out of the frame to take a look. It was part of a division patch! I was able to match the insignia to the 23rd Army Infantry Division, or the 'Americal Division' as it was commonly known as. The division was in fact one of the ones that occupied Japan, starting in 1945. They also occupied the same area that the other similar painting I mentioned was marked with (Yokosuka), so it could have very well been done by either the same artist, or another artist who did similar portraits. Since the edges of the silk look a little ragged, my guess is that this one was cut to fit a frame at some point.
I have a solid starting point now to finding out the identity of this mystery soldier though! I'll definitely keep y'all updated.
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Oh wow what a great historical mystery!
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What a find! This is playing out like an old timey mystery book. Go go Nancy Drew! The Case of the Silk Soldier.
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Oh wow what a great historical mystery!
Isn't it? I'm so excited about this! I love doing research.
What a find! This is playing out like an old timey mystery book. Go go Nancy Drew! The Case of the Silk Soldier.
Haha oh man I grew up on Nancy Drew too! Me and my sis are still big fans. That's too perfect, The Case of the Silk Soldier. Love it!
Update #2:
Out of all the photographs I've studied so far, Ed Gekosky (http://www.182ndinfantry.org/ed-gekosky/) here comes the closest as far as facial features go. I'm still not convinced that it's him, exactly, but I think I'll put him down as a possibility. And the timelines would match up if we assume this painting was done in a similar fashion to the other occupied Japan one, since Gekosky was apparently in Japan with his unit during that time.
For comparison, here's the painting and his photo side-by-side:
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They do bear a striking resemblance. Might be the angle, but it seems the painting has a much thicker jaw shape. Not quite as slender. But the photo might be of a younger him, so I’m not ruling it out. Here’s hoping somehow you can get in touch and ask if his family can confirm anything. Keep on digging!
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I was gonna suggest maybe he was from a unit that stayed for the occupation. I know my grandpa was in the 27th infantry division and they stayed to occupy Fukushima prefecture. I remember him and my grandma saying he returned well after the war ended.
This sort of thing is right up my alley
* Has degree in military history*
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Hmm. The face shape isn't right. The silk soldier has a much rounder face and seems older.
The man in the photo has somewhere between a heart and oval shaped face. He also looks thinner and younger, like he's fresh out of his teens.
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Hmm. The face shape isn't right. The silk soldier has a much rounder face and seems older.
The man in the photo has somewhere between a heart and oval shaped face. He also looks thinner and younger, like he's fresh out of his teens.
Very true. I'm making a list of anyone I come across in the Americal Division who looks vaguely like him, just in case. It is a painting after all, so it's probably not a perfect likeness. It still doesn't feel right though so I'm just gonna keep looking.