Dublin Core
Title
Description
The Wizard of Oz by Ruth Harper is an oil painting that visually interprets the world created by L. Frank Baum. The composition centers on a young female figure, likely Dorothy Gale, surrounded by a wide array of characters and animals drawn from multiple Oz narratives. Among them are recognizable figures such as the Tin Woodman and Cowardly Lion, as well as more unusual presences like the Saw-Horse, Princess Ozma, Tik-Tok, and even small piglets, all arranged together in a single, imaginative scene. The painting makes strong use of gem-toned colors, particularly gold and emerald green, which visually reference key elements of the Oz setting like the Emerald City. The emerald green around the painting suggests a proscenium curtain drawing open, inviting the viewer to escape along with Dorothy. Harper’s dense gathering of characters, almost like an “all-star” cast, produces a sense of childlike wonder while also creating a dreamlike, layered environment. While the original Oz stories have often been interpreted as political allegories tied to late 19th-century economic debates and the struggles leading into the Great Depression, it remains uncertain whether Harper intentionally emphasized these meanings. Instead, her painting can be more confidently understood as embracing a surreal, imaginative quality, blending multiple narrative moments into a single fantastical vision. Through this approach, Harper’s work offers viewers a form of escapism, using familiar literary figures and rich symbolism to construct a world that contrasts with the hardships of the Depression-era context in which it was created.
About the Artist
What we know of Ruth Harper, as an artist, is that of a whimsical style influenced by fables and fairytales. She was born 1883 in Melbourn, Cambridgeshire, England; her family immigrated in 1889 to Ogden, NY—probably due to farming opportunities on the part of her father, James. Harper graduated in 1906 from Brockport Normal School, by which time she had married Frank Austin (continuing to use Harper for her artistic work). She spent most of her life as an art teacher in the Yonkers, NY school district. In 1936 she received a commission from the Federal Art Project painting a large mural for a kindergarten classroom, located above its fireplace in those earlier times. The mural’s composition—of Cinderella and her castle at its center, surrounded by a metaverse of fairy tale characters—anticipates her later painting The Wizard of Oz (1941). Both works stand out within the context of the Great Depression for their imaginative and uplifting qualities, offering a sense of escapism and creativity during an otherwise difficult period. More recently, The Wizard of Oz was unexpectedly discovered in Schenectady, NY, as part of an investigation by the General Services Administration. The painting’s owner reported purchasing it years earlier from a junk store for a small sum, adding an element of mystery to its provenance. This case, along with dozens of others, highlights the importance of the GSA’s Office of Inspector General for recovering New Deal art that is still owned by the public.
Works Consulted: “Murals by Artists of WPA to Decorate Schools, Library” (Yonkers Herald Statesman 23 Mar. 1936: 5); US General Services Administration, Office Of Inspector General, WPA Artwork Recovery--New York City Schools (File Number: 122200049, 27 June 2024) Courtesy of governmentattic.org
About the Artist
What we know of Ruth Harper, as an artist, is that of a whimsical style influenced by fables and fairytales. She was born 1883 in Melbourn, Cambridgeshire, England; her family immigrated in 1889 to Ogden, NY—probably due to farming opportunities on the part of her father, James. Harper graduated in 1906 from Brockport Normal School, by which time she had married Frank Austin (continuing to use Harper for her artistic work). She spent most of her life as an art teacher in the Yonkers, NY school district. In 1936 she received a commission from the Federal Art Project painting a large mural for a kindergarten classroom, located above its fireplace in those earlier times. The mural’s composition—of Cinderella and her castle at its center, surrounded by a metaverse of fairy tale characters—anticipates her later painting The Wizard of Oz (1941). Both works stand out within the context of the Great Depression for their imaginative and uplifting qualities, offering a sense of escapism and creativity during an otherwise difficult period. More recently, The Wizard of Oz was unexpectedly discovered in Schenectady, NY, as part of an investigation by the General Services Administration. The painting’s owner reported purchasing it years earlier from a junk store for a small sum, adding an element of mystery to its provenance. This case, along with dozens of others, highlights the importance of the GSA’s Office of Inspector General for recovering New Deal art that is still owned by the public.
Works Consulted: “Murals by Artists of WPA to Decorate Schools, Library” (Yonkers Herald Statesman 23 Mar. 1936: 5); US General Services Administration, Office Of Inspector General, WPA Artwork Recovery--New York City Schools (File Number: 122200049, 27 June 2024) Courtesy of governmentattic.org
Creator
Harper, Ruth (1883 - 1975)
Publisher
Date
Contributor
White, Ava (description and biography)
Helquist, Morgan (photography)
Helquist, Morgan (photography)
Source
New Deal Museum, Mount Morris NY
Object #FA 27779
Object #FA 27779
Format
jpeg, 1.2 MB
jpeg, 1.1 MB
jpeg, 1.1 MB
Type
Still Image Item Type Metadata
Original Format
Oil on canvas painting
Physical Dimensions
50 x 30 in.