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 (1,319 results)
Twelve Etchings., 1934–1953

Paul Cadmus

Twelve Etchings., 1934–1953

Sale Date: April 18, 2024

Auction Closed

The Bath., 1953

Paul Cadmus

The Bath., 1953

Sale Date: April 18, 2024

Auction Closed

Teddo, 1985

Paul Cadmus

Teddo, 1985

Sale Date: June 15, 2023

Auction Closed

Jared French, 1940, 1940

PaJaMa

Jared French, 1940, 1940

Sale Date: February 28, 2024

Auction Closed

George Tooker, Nantucket, 1946, 1946

Paul Cadmus

George Tooker, Nantucket, 1946, 1946

Sale Date: February 28, 2024

Auction Closed

George Tooker and Jared French,..., 1947

Paul Cadmus

George Tooker and Jared French,..., 1947

Sale Date: February 28, 2024

Auction Closed

George Platt Lynes, Clinton, New Jersey, c...., 1943

PaJaMa

George Platt Lynes, Clinton, New Jersey, c...., 1943

Sale Date: February 28, 2024

Auction Closed

Jared French, Fire Island, 1944, 1944

PaJaMa

Jared French, Fire Island, 1944, 1944

Sale Date: February 28, 2024

Auction Closed

Portrait Of A Shirtless Man.

School of Paul Cadmus

Portrait Of A Shirtless Man.

Sale Date: January 26, 2024

Auction Closed

Nude Study

Paul Cadmus

Nude Study

Sale Date: November 29, 2023

Auction Closed

3 Nude Studies

Paul Cadmus

3 Nude Studies

Sale Date: November 29, 2023

Auction Closed

Untitled

Paul Cadmus

Untitled

Sale Date: November 29, 2023

Auction Closed

David and Goliath, studies (three works), 1971

Paul Cadmus

David and Goliath, studies (three works), 1971

Sale Date: November 17, 2023

Auction Closed

TWO BOYS ON A BEACH, NO. 1 (DAVENPORT 42)

Paul Cadmus

TWO BOYS ON A BEACH, NO. 1 (DAVENPORT 42)

Sale Date: November 1, 2023

Auction Closed

HORSEPLAY (DAVENPORT 39)

Paul Cadmus

HORSEPLAY (DAVENPORT 39)

Sale Date: November 1, 2023

Auction Closed

Waiting for Rehearsal., 1984

Paul Cadmus

Waiting for Rehearsal., 1984

Sale Date: November 2, 2023

Auction Closed

YMCA Locker Room., 1934

Paul Cadmus

YMCA Locker Room., 1934

Sale Date: November 2, 2023

Auction Closed

Going South., 1936

Paul Cadmus

Going South., 1936

Sale Date: November 2, 2023

Auction Closed

Glenway Wescott with beach towel, Fire Island., 1941

PaJaMa

Glenway Wescott with beach towel, Fire Island., 1941

Sale Date: October 5, 2023

Auction Closed

Coney Island, 1935

Paul Cadmus

Coney Island, 1935

Sale Date: October 3, 2023

Auction Closed

The Fleet's In!, 1935

Paul Cadmus

The Fleet's In!, 1935

Sale Date: October 3, 2023

Auction Closed

Going South, 1934

Paul Cadmus

Going South, 1934

Sale Date: October 3, 2023

Auction Closed

Shore Leave, 1935

Paul Cadmus

Shore Leave, 1935

Sale Date: October 3, 2023

Auction Closed

Seated Crouching Nude., 1970

Paul Cadmus

Seated Crouching Nude., 1970

Sale Date: September 21, 2023

Auction Closed