Paul Cadmus

(American, 1904–1999)

Paul Cadmus was an American painter, best known for his stylized, high-contrast renderings of male nudes and portraits. In his elegant tempura paintings, Cadmus emphasizes his subjects’ musculature in a style akin to Magical Realism, offering a level of intricate detail beyond observable life. Born on December 17, 1904 in New York, NY, he studied at the Art Students League in 1928 and thereafter worked in field commercial illustration, eventually receiving commissions in 1933 from the New Deal art program and going on to create mural paintings in post offices and other government offices. One of his earliest and most important works was The Fleets In!, a 1934 commission by the Public Works of Art Project of the WPA, wherein he painted a series of portraits of sailors on leave which controversially included a homosexual couple. His work garnered him both critical and commercial success, and he died in Connecticut on December 12, 1999. Cadmus has been featured in numerous important museum exhibitions, including the Whitney Museum in New York in 1996.

Paul Cadmus Artworks

Paul Cadmus (1,435 results)
Two boys on the beach, no. 2, 1939

Paul Cadmus

Two boys on the beach, no. 2, 1939

Sale Date: September 15, 2005

Auction Closed

Nudo # 2, 1984

Paul Cadmus

Nudo # 2, 1984

Sale Date: July 17, 2005

Auction Closed

Two boys on a beach, II, 1939

Paul Cadmus

Two boys on a beach, II, 1939

Sale Date: May 20, 2005

Auction Closed

Sheila on Venetian chair, 1970

Paul Cadmus

Sheila on Venetian chair, 1970

Sale Date: June 22, 2005

Auction Closed

Reclining nude, 1991

Paul Cadmus

Reclining nude, 1991

Sale Date: June 20, 2005

Auction Closed

The cheval glass, 1976

Paul Cadmus

The cheval glass, 1976

Sale Date: May 24, 2005

Auction Closed

Waiting for rehearsal, 1984

Paul Cadmus

Waiting for rehearsal, 1984

Sale Date: May 4, 2005

Auction Closed

Mobile, 1953

Paul Cadmus

Mobile, 1953

Sale Date: May 4, 2005

Auction Closed

Two boys on a beach, no.2, 1938

Paul Cadmus

Two boys on a beach, no.2, 1938

Sale Date: May 4, 2005

Auction Closed

Waiting for rehearsal, 1984

Paul Cadmus

Waiting for rehearsal, 1984

Sale Date: May 5, 2005

Auction Closed

Coney Island, 1935

Paul Cadmus

Coney Island, 1935

Sale Date: May 5, 2005

Auction Closed

Waiting for rehearsal, 1984

Paul Cadmus

Waiting for rehearsal, 1984

Sale Date: March 10, 2005

Auction Closed

Arabesque, 1947

Paul Cadmus

Arabesque, 1947

Sale Date: March 10, 2005

Auction Closed

Female nude, 1937

Paul Cadmus

Female nude, 1937

Sale Date: March 10, 2005

Auction Closed

Polo spill (Aspects of suburban life), 1938

Paul Cadmus

Polo spill (Aspects of suburban life), 1938

Sale Date: March 3, 2005

Auction Closed

Standing male nude

Paul Cadmus

Standing male nude

Sale Date: December 1, 2004

Auction Closed

Jose Martinez, 1937

Paul Cadmus

Jose Martinez, 1937

Sale Date: December 1, 2004

Auction Closed

Waiting for rehearsal, 1984

Paul Cadmus

Waiting for rehearsal, 1984

Sale Date: December 1, 2004

Auction Closed

Ballet Dancer, 1953

Paul Cadmus

Ballet Dancer, 1953

Sale Date: November 4, 2004

Auction Closed

Stewarts, 1934

Paul Cadmus

Stewarts, 1934

Sale Date: November 4, 2004

Auction Closed

Two boys on a beach, no. 2, 1939

Paul Cadmus

Two boys on a beach, no. 2, 1939

Sale Date: November 2, 2004

Auction Closed

Shore leave, 1935

Paul Cadmus

Shore leave, 1935

Sale Date: October 19, 2004

Auction Closed

Young man

Paul Cadmus

Young man

Sale Date: September 10, 2004

Auction Closed

Dancers resting, 1974–1974

Paul Cadmus

Dancers resting, 1974–1974

Sale Date: September 10, 2004

Auction Closed