Seven Toed Pete

John Sloan

1929 · Etching · Drawings and Prints

This print was commissioned by Edward J. Grassmann, a consulting engineer of New York and Elizabeth, New Jersey. The original agreement was that for $1,500 Grassmann would get 50 prints, with the promise of no more to be printed, and the cancelled plate. Grassmann paid $1,000 in December 1929 and received the 50 prints. Sloan kept the plate. A year later, Grassmann sent the additional $500, but by that time Sloan had reconsidered, wanting proofs of the plate for other collectors. Sloan gave Grassmann the option of his making an additional 25 prints then cancelling the plate and sending it to him or returning the $500, retaining the plate, and making an additional 50 prints. Grossmann initially rejected both offers, but must have eventually accepted the second, as Sloan returned the $500, retained the plate and the right to print 50 more proofs for a total edition of 100, see: Morse 1969, p. 265.

Artist

John Sloan

Date

1929

Medium

Etching

Department

Drawings and Prints

Credit line

Gift of Ernest Shapiro and Family, 1995