“Manhattan Regular,” Gerry Dvorak (1913–1999), c.1970s hand-pulled lithograph 26×20 in., signed & numbered 9/300, iconic NYC skyline & tugboat scene.

“Manhattan Regular,” Gerry Dvorak (1913–1999), c.1970s hand-pulled lithograph 26×20 in., signed & numbered 9/300, iconic NYC skyline & tugboat scene.

“Manhattan Regular” is a signed, limited-edition lithograph by Gerry Dvorak that celebrates New York City’s iconic skyline with bold color, crisp architectural detail, and classic Americana charm. A highly collectible work from the celebrated animator and illustrator, this vintage hand-pulled print remains in excellent frameable condition.

Artwork Description

“Manhattan Regular” showcases Gerry Dvorak’s distinctive blend of narrative realism, architectural precision, and warm nostalgia—an aesthetic shaped by decades in animation and graphic illustration. Rendered as a hand-drawn, hand-pulled lithograph, the composition depicts the Manhattan skyline in brilliant color and stylized geometric forms, with clear depictions of the Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, and United Nations Secretariat anchoring the silhouette.

A red tugboat glides across the foreground of the East River, creating a sense of gentle motion and human presence against the monumental backdrop of New York’s mid-century architecture. Dvorak’s controlled outline style—sharpened through his work with Hanna-Barbera, UPA, and Paramount—lends the scene crispness, while his nuanced color blocking and rhythmic water textures bring vibrancy and depth.

The print embodies Dvorak’s affection for American cityscapes and his mastery of graphic storytelling. The palette is clean and saturated, the forms intentionally simplified yet unmistakable, evoking classic travel posters, mid-century modern illustration, and the spirit of New York in its golden era. Signed at lower right and numbered 9/300 at lower left, the work exemplifies the artist’s transition from commercial animation to fine-art printmaking during the 1970s and 1980s.

Biography of Gerry Dvorak

Gerry Dvorak (American, 1913–1999) was a multidisciplinary illustrator, animator, painter, and printmaker whose career bridged commercial art, mid-century animation, and expressive fine art. Born in Pennsylvania, Dvorak displayed early artistic ability and eventually relocated to New York—then the nation’s creative capital—to pursue professional training and artistic work.

Education & Artistic Formation
He studied at Penn State College, later attending the Traphagen School of Fashion in New York, where he refined draftsmanship and design skills. His most robust training came from the Art Students League of New York, where he studied under celebrated instructors Frank Reilly, Reginald Marsh, Victor Perard, and Robert Beverly Hale. This rigorous academic grounding in figure drawing, proportion, composition, and tonal control became the technical backbone of his future animation and fine-art practice.

Animation & Illustration Career
Dvorak entered the animation industry during its golden age, working for major studios including Hanna-Barbera, UPA Pictures, Paramount Pictures, and CBS. His professional credits include work on Casper the Friendly Ghost, The Flintstones, and the animated feature Raggedy Ann & Andy, as well as commercial animation such as the famous Harry and Bert Piel advertisement series. His clear linework, expressive character design, and instinct for narrative pacing made him a valued contributor across studios.

He also produced illustrations for magazines, newspapers, children's publications, and notably for Topps baseball cards in the 1950s, now highly sought after by sports collectors. His crisp, stylized realism made his work immediately recognizable.

Fine Art Career
By the 1970s, Dvorak shifted focus to painting and original printmaking, often creating lithographs depicting Americana, childhood scenes, cityscapes, and landscapes. His fine-art exhibitions included Abercrombie & Fitch Gallery, Phyllis Lucas Gallery, FAR Gallery, Sportsman’s Edge, Adray, and others in New York and Florida. His work was also featured at the Ridgewood Art Association and in exhibitions at the Indian Creek Country Club.

His one-man show in Miami Beach was notably attended by Vice President Hubert Humphrey, indicating his prominence in mid-century American art circles. Among his more unusual commissions, Dvorak produced an oil painting of a white tiger now held in the collection of the Maharajah of Rewa in India.

Legacy
Collectors value Dvorak for his ability to fuse the clarity and discipline of commercial art with the warmth and depth of fine-art storytelling. His lithographs—such as “Manhattan Regular”—are prized for their nostalgia, precision, and accessible American spirit. Today, his works remain admired by animation historians, print collectors, and admirers of mid-century urban art.

Gerry Dvorak (1913–1999), “Manhattan Regular,” c.1970s, hand-pulled lithograph, 26×20 in., pencil-signed lower right, numbered 9/300 lower left. Excellent condition; strong impression. Provenance: Mitch Morse Gallery, NYC.

Certificate of Value & Authentication

Artist: Gerry Dvorak (American, 1913–1999)
Title: Manhattan Regular
Date: c.1970s
Medium: Hand-drawn, hand-pulled lithograph
Dimensions: 26 × 20 in.
Edition: 9/300
Signature: Hand-signed by the artist in graphite
Authenticity: Guaranteed original limited-edition lithograph created, signed, and numbered by Gerry Dvorak.
Condition: Excellent, never framed or displayed.
Provenance: Mitch Morse Gallery (NYC) → Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC.
This document certifies the authenticity and establishes valuation for gallery, collector, and insurance purposes.

Provenance Chain (Collector-Formatted)

Mitch Morse Gallery, New York, NY (acquired directly in NYC)
→ Private Gallery Holdings, United States
→ Artfind Gallery, Washington, DC (current owner)