“Dressing Room,” Jan DeRuth (1922–1991), c.1970s hand-colored lithograph, 23×32.5 in., signed “Sample Only,” rare early proof impression.

“Dressing Room,” Jan DeRuth (1922–1991), c.1970s hand-colored lithograph, 23×32.5 in., signed “Sample Only,” rare early proof impression.

A rare 1970s hand-colored lithograph by Czech-American master Jan DeRuth, “Dressing Room” captures three dancers preparing backstage, rendered with his signature expressive linework and luminous color washes. This scarce “Sample Only” proof reflects DeRuth’s refined figurative style, museum-exhibited career, and enduring reputation as one of the 20th century’s great interpreters of the human form.

Artwork Description

“Dressing Room” is a richly hand-tinted 1970s lithograph depicting three young dancers in rehearsal attire—an intimate, cinematic moment from backstage life. DeRuth organizes the composition in a triangular arrangement, guiding the viewer’s eye across three contrasting emotional states: contemplation, quiet focus, and confident self-possession. The central figure anchors the piece, her back turned, hips shifted, creating a graceful serpentine line reminiscent of classical figural drawing.

The medium is characteristic of DeRuth’s preferred method in the 1970s: a hand-drawn lithograph overlaid with nuanced watercolor-like pigments, applied to create delicate skin tones, velvety shadows, and vibrant garment highlights. Soft blues, garnet reds, and amber accents mingle with deep charcoal outlines, producing a theatrical, almost Degas-like ambience — a modern homage to Impressionist backstage scenes, but rendered with DeRuth’s unmistakable immediacy.

The lower left bears the unusual graphite inscription “Sample Only,” indicating this impression predates the final edition and was likely produced for presentation to a dealer, publisher, or printer prior to full release. Such proofs are exceptionally scarce and valued by collectors for their direct connection to the artist’s working process.

Signed in graphite at lower right, the work reflects DeRuth’s lifelong devotion to the human figure — capturing not merely appearance, but psychological presence. As with much of his oeuvre, the women appear thoughtful and real, not stylized archetypes, reflecting his belief that the figure is “nature’s most perfect and most imperfect creation,” communicating power, vulnerability, and spirit all at once.

Biography of Jan DeRuth

Jan DeRuth (1922–1991) was a Czech-American painter, printmaker, author, and one of the 20th century’s most respected figurative artists. Born in Karlsbad, Czechoslovakia, he showed remarkable drawing ability from childhood and later trained at the Rotter Art School in Prague, where he developed a foundation in academic draftsmanship. His early influences included the expressive realism of Käthe Kollwitz, the psychological portraiture of Egon Schiele, and the tonal discipline of the Old Masters.

His life was profoundly shaped by the events of World War II, during which he was forcibly moved through five concentration camps — including Auschwitz — before successfully escaping in 1945. Even under those brutal conditions he drew secretly, using scraps of paper, cloth, and improvised pigments such as coffee. A small drawing traded for bread became, in his own words, “my first sale.”

After the war, DeRuth briefly served as a commissar in a small Czech town before forging documents that enabled his escape to England. He settled in London and enrolled in the Ruskin Art School at Oxford University, further refining the expressive muscularity of his figural style. In 1948 he immigrated to the United States, studying at both the Art Students League and The New School in New York City.

Before establishing himself as a full-time artist in 1955, DeRuth held a wide range of jobs — fashion designer, illustrator, salesman, theater manager — all of which enriched his sensitivity to gesture, posture, and the unguarded moments of everyday life. His professional breakthrough came in 1957 with his first major solo exhibition, followed by more than 50 solo gallery shows, 14 museum exhibitions, and over 38 national juried exhibitions.

DeRuth authored two influential textbooks: Portrait Painting (1964) and Painting the Nude (1968), both still referenced by painters and art students today. His portrait of Ethel Kennedy appeared on the cover of Time Magazine, cementing his role as a leading portraitist.

His awards included the Butler Institute Purchase Prize, the Grumbacher Prize, the National Arts Club Gold Medal, and the Winsor & Newton Award, among many others. His work has been exhibited at the Mint Museum, Neville Public Museum, B’nai B’rith Museum, Lauren Rogers Museum, and numerous academic art centers across the United States.

DeRuth’s deep humanism — shaped by trauma, resilience, and gratitude for life — permeates all his work. The female form, in particular, became his lifelong subject: a vessel for emotional truth, inner strength, fragility, and grace. “There is no final answer in the human figure,” he once wrote. “Each gesture is new.” His legacy persists in the heartfelt sincerity and technical mastery that define every drawing, painting, and print he created.

Jan DeRuth, “Dressing Room,” c.1970s, hand-colored lithograph, 23×32.5 in., signed in graphite and marked “Sample Only.” Rare early proof impression from this acclaimed figurative master.

Certificate of Value & Authentication

Artist: Jan DeRuth (1922–1991)
Title: Dressing Room
Date: c.1970s
Medium: Hand-drawn lithograph with hand-applied color
Dimensions: 23 × 32.5 inches
Edition: Rare proof marked “Sample Only” (pre-edition impression)
Signature: Hand-signed in graphite by Jan DeRuth
Authenticity: Verified based on signature consistency, period paper type, lithographic technique, and provenance through Mitch Morse Gallery.
Current Owner: Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC
This artwork is an authentic original lithograph by Jan DeRuth and carries the full provenance and valuation below.

Provenance Chain (Collector-Formatted)

• Artist Jan DeRuth (Czechoslovakia → USA)
• Acquired by Mitch Morse Gallery, NYC (publisher, dealer, restorer; long-time source for DeRuth works)
• Private acquisitions via Mitch Morse Gallery (New York & European sourcing)
• Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC — current owner