Blume, Peter [key], 1906–92, American painter, b. Russia. Blume immigrated to the United States in 1911. In his early work, such as The Parade (1930; Mus. of Modern Art, New York City), he sought to depict through symbolism the smooth, hard contours of the industrial world. His paintings, which gained recognition in the 1930s, are precise, linear, and fantastic treatments of modern social themes. Painted in microscopic detail, they skillfully mingle social and magic realism. Major works include the powerful antifascist The Eternal City (1934–37; Mus. of Modern Art), The Rock (1945–48; Art Inst., Chicago), and Tasso's Oak (1957–60).
See exhibition catalogs by F. Getlein (1968) and R. Cozzolino (2015).
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