Recently I did a temporary post and put this painting on it. Several readers wanted to know the name of it, and who painted it. Animan has done his homework and can now reveal the title of the work and the name of the artist. It's "Silver Slipper" by Waldo Pierce. It was painted during the 1930's. The Silver Slipper was an establishment adjacent to Sloppy Joe's in Key West, Florida.
Animan loves this wild picture. The sign over the door says "No vulgar dancing", but the sailors don't seem to be paying any attention. They are full of sexual energy and really burning up the dance floor. The band in the background is interesting, because the drummer is pounding the bass drum and hitting the cymbal in a very un-jazzlike way--it's more like a German polka. And the drummer's chair looks as if it's about to fall off the stage! Although the painting may not be considered as "high-class art" by many, this painting is absolutely delightful, and shows how much animation can be found in non-moving art.
SILVER SLIPPER by Waldo Peirce
Artwork images are copyright of the artist or assignee
That's probably because they weren't playing Jazz. Since it's so far south they may play a Dixieland tune or since the band is mostly African-American it's probably Swing music (which, many establishments wanted them to play. After the 1920's people got sick of Jazz as it was during the Harlem Renaissance. It's why so many Black clubs in Paris failed and closed down during the 1930's)
ReplyDelete