A Soldier

Notes: Painted in New York, NY. 22 Jan. got commission, 24, got photos of uniforms, began painting 25, 27, 29 "got new photographs for portrait & stretched a 22/25 for it.", 31 "drew scale of portrait", February 1 "I drew on the scale of my portrait in the front-room.", 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 21, 22, 23, 28, March 1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 12, 13, 19, 22 "Constant posed for me a few minutes after school.", 23, 25, 26, 27, 28 "(Shelly [Sheldon Dick] posed in coat)", "Valentine in pm [the commissioner]", 29, 30, April 2 "took portrait to Fred's", [because changed studios], 5, 6, 7, 11, 13, 14, 19, 20, 30 "Valentine in - accepted portrait - it is at Lowy's. [for framing]", May 1 "Valentine to Shelly's.", 2 "portrait refused."

To EHS, January 20, 1945, on hoped for commission. Letters to ED's sister & journal The commission was for a portrait from a photograph of a young man just killed in the war. I [HDB] believe the portrait did not succeed and I remember ED having emotionally a very hard time with it. Subject was too painful. Constant posed with a hat for the head.