Harvey Dunn

Harvey Dunn was born in 1884 in Manchester, South Dakota. Harvey was raised on a farm, and as such had many responsibilities to take care of. However, whatever time he wasn’t using to complete his chores he would devote to drawing. In 1901, Harvey had the opportunity to attend the South Dakota Agricultural College where he met Ada Caldwell – another influential South Dakota artist. Caldwell encouraged Harvey to pursue an artistic path. He heeded her advice and enrolled at the Chicago Art Institute.

By 1906, Harvey had completed his education and was supporting himself by selling his art to magazines. Notable clients of his included, among others, the Saturday Evening Post and Harper’s Weekly.  He married in 1908 and moved to Leonia, New Jersey in 1911 because the art market was better. In 1915, Harvey and another artist opened the Leonia School of Illustration. In 1917, Harvey was chosen to serve as a graphic reporter on the front lines of WWI. He was released in 1919 and many of his military drawings are now at the Smithsonian.

Harvey Dunn saw his greatest commercial success as a painter before he left for Europe. However, what Harvey would describe as his most fulfilling and worthwhile job came after he returned: teaching. Harvey was a remarkable teacher whom his students respected and revered. Many of his students were already accomplished artists when they came to him for instruction. What set Harvey apart from other art instructors was that he focused on the philosophical aspects of art instead of painting techniques. Harvey’s most famous instruction was done in the Grand Central School of Art on the top floor of Grand Central Station in New York City. He instructed many notable artists in that venue. Harvey continued to paint pictures and inspire generations of artists until his death in 1952.

Harvey Dunn is known for a plethora of works. He illustrated for multiple national magazines, painted murals for a department store in New York City, saw his military works on the cover of Legion Monthly, and completed numerous sketches, drawings, and paintings of the Midwest. Harvey’s most famous work is The Prairie is My Garden which depicts a romanticized version of the difficulties of pioneer life.