Shannon Stirnweis: Thomas Wolfe

Artist: Shannon Stirnweis
1931 -
Nationality: American
Artwork Year: 2000
Image Size: 12 by 14 inches
Overall Size: 15 by 20 inches
Medium: Oil on Cold Press Illustration Board

Solipsism is the theory that only the self exists, or can be proven to exist. Thomas Wolfe, who died in 1938 shortly before his 38th birthday, was the embodiment of that type of self-conscious speculation. "Which of us," he wrote in Look Homeward, Angel (1929), "has known his brother? Which of us has looked into his father's heart? Which of us has not remained forever prison-pent? Which of us is not forever a stranger and alone? . . . we seek the great forgotten language, the lost lane-end into heaven, a stone, a leaf, an unfound door. Where? When?" Born in Asheville, North Carolina, the son of a loving but alcoholic stonecutter and Julia Westall, the parsimonious owner of a boardinghouse, Wolfe was a bright student and read voraciously. He went to first-rate schools, including the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Harvard where he received his M.A. in English. An enthusiastic professor encouraged him to move to New York and become a playwright. Failure forced Wolfe to accept a position as an English instructor at New York University. Eventually he found his voice in autobiographical novels such as his first, Look Homeward, Angel. Some have criticized his sprawling style and formlessness. Few, however, would deny Wolfe's passion or his ability to phrase it. William Faulkner wrote of him: "He was willing to throw away style, coherence, all the rules of preciseness to try to put all the experience of the human heart on the head of a pin."

This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood® First Day Cover for the U.S. 33¢ Thomas Wolfe stamp issued October 3, 2000.

Artwork Copyright © 2000 Unicover Corporation. All Rights Reserved under United States and international copyright laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, transmit, or otherwise exploit the Artwork in any way. Images of the Artwork may be watermarked and/or digitally watermarked. Any sale of the physical original does not include or convey the Copyright or any right comprised in the copyright.

Our Stock Number (SKU): XB16738

US$ Price: $1,000.00

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