Painter and printmaker Herschel Levit was born in Pennsylvania in 1912. He studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, and was a member of the Philadelphia Art Alliance, Philadelphia Print Club, and the Modern Etchers Group.

Levit exhibited at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, 1934-36, 1966-69; Art Institute of Chicago, 1934-35, 1938-39; Springfield Art Museum, 1938; Philadelphia Art Alliance, 1938, 1944-46; Oklahoma Art Club, 1940; Allied Artists of America, 1945-46; Philadelphia Print Club, 1946;

Library of Congress, 1946; Brooklyn Museum; and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. His work is represented in the collections of the Free Library, Department of Education, Philadelphia; the University of Pennsylvania Museum; and the Mexican Navy Department, Mexico City. Employed by the WPA, his commissions included murals at the Rowan School, Philadelphia; Recorder of Deeds Building, Washington, DC; USPO Buildings, Leisville, OH and Jenkintown, PA.

Levit taught at Pratt Institute for more than 30 years and created illustrations and advertising for a wide range of clients.

Untitled (Duet), c. 1940, Lithograph.

Edition not stated. Signed in pencil.

Image size 12 x 9 1/16 inches (305 x 230 mm); sheet size 15 1/4 x 12 1/4 inches (387 x 311 mm).

A fine, rich impression, on off-white wove paper, with full margins (1 1/2 to 1 7/8 inches), in excellent condition.

$750.

Take It Away!, 1945, Lithograph.

Edition not stated. Signed in pencil.

Image size 13 3/8 x 9 3/4 inches (340 x 248 mm); sheet size 18 x 12 1/2 inches (457 x 318 mm).

A superb, richly inked impression, on cream wove paper, with full margins (1 to 2 1/2 inches), in excellent condition. Original paper tape hinge remains on the top sheet edge, recto, well away from the image.

Illustrated in L'Amerique de la Depression: Artistes Engagés des Années 30, Musée-Gallerie de la Seita, Paris, 1996.

$2400.