Rio Grande

WINOLD REISS, 1886-1953

Reiss's works remain well known today, in part because of the railroad calendars and souvenirs produced from his portraits. However, his work—like that of other great artists and illustrators such as Norman Rockwell—survives and flourishes not just as a result of the Great Northern's printed matter but because he captured a very recognizable and uniquely American theme. Reiss also expressed the great feeling for color and design that his native friends favored. He rendered his subjects in a way that conveyed honor, beauty, and dignity upon them, free of racial prejudice. His own unique style can be viewed as a synthesis of bold, colorful graphic design, skillful drawing, and fine art.

Linda Engh-Grady, Executive Director, Hockaday Museum of Art