This project was supported in whole or in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian. Made accessible through a grant from the John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation and Photo Friends.
Photograph was edited for publication purposes Henry Van Wolf, born in Bavaria in 1898, was a prominent sculptor in the San Fernando Valley. Moving to the San Fernando Valley in 1944, Van Wolf sculpted many statues and busts on display throughout the Los Angeles and elsewhere in the United States. He founded the Valley Artists Guild, also known as VAG in 1948. Van Wolf died in 1982. Photograph caption dated September 4, 1964 reads "Bearded critic Wilhelm Steimetz takes a close look at the controversial statue of Tarzan while sculptor Henry Van Wolf, right, registers his opinion of Watson's critique." Mike Watson, an Encino man, and a community group had objected to Tarzan's apparent nudity. Steimetz found the statue "completely unobjectionable." Van Wolf threatened to give up the commission altogether. The article partially reads "Moments later they returned, announced they had made an 'agonizing reappraisal,' and would be satisfied if the ape-man had a string across the back of his waist to at least suggest he was not completely nude. A relieved-looking Van Wolf accepted the compromise." The statue pictured is a model of a two-ton statue to be erected in Tarzana. Van Wolf maintained his studio in his home at 14101 Chandler Boulevard in Van Nuys.
Type
image
Format
1 photographic print :b&w ;26 x 21 cm. Photographic prints
Van Wolf, Henry--1898-1982 Sculptors--California--Los Angeles Artists--California--Los Angeles Art critics--California--Los Angeles Men--California--Los Angeles Artists' studios--California--Los Angeles Sculpture--California--Los Angeles Tarzan (Fictitious character) Tarzan (Fictitious character) in art Tarzan (Fictitious character)--Statues Magnifying glasses--California--Los Angeles Animals in art Interiors--California--Van Nuys (Los Angeles) Canoga Park (Los Angeles, Calif.) Valley Times Collection photographs
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