Charles William “Bill” (Baker) Reagh [1911-1992]
United States
Two African-American men, 1935
Oil on canvas
36 x 24 inches
Signed at lower right and dated : ‘REAGH / 35’.

Provenance
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2019 David Smernoff, New Haven, CT ;
2019 Hudson Valley Auctions, New Windsor, NY ;
2017 Private collection of [unknown] ;
2017 Hudson Valley Auctions, New Windsor, NY ;
after 1835 Private collection of [unknown] ;
1935 Charles William Reagh [1911-1992], the artist .

Exhibitions
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2019 Hudson Valley Auctions, New Windsor, NY, “Fine art & antique auction”, January 19.
2017 Hudson Valley Auctions, New Windsor, NY, “Important art & antique auction”, December 16.

References
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– 2019 Hudson Valley Auctions, New Windsor, NY, online auction catalog, “Fine art & antique auction”, January 19, 2019, lot #80, illustrated : color.
– Hudson Valley Auctions, New Windsor, NY, online auction catalog, “Important art & antique auction”, December 16, 2017, lot #219, illustrated : color.

Charles William “Bill” (Baker) Reagh [1911-1992] biography:

Birth: March 16, 1911 in Kinsley, Edwards, KS ;
Death: June 10, 1992 in Los Angeles, CA ;
Sex: Male ;
Ethnicity: White ; 
Zodiac: Pices ;

Known for: Painting til about 1938 ; the “Ansel Adams of Los Angeles” photography from 1938 till his death in 1992 ;
Medium: Oil ; film ;
Technique: Painting ; photography ;
Subjects: Los Angeles locations ; figures ;

Areas: Kinsley, Edwards, KS (1911-)  ; San Francisco, CA (1930) ; Los Angeles, CA (1931-1992) ;
Region: Midwest ; West Coast ;
Lived: Kinsley, Edwards, KS (1911-) ; San Francisco, CA (1930) ; Los Angeles, CA (1940-1992) ;
Father: Charles A Baker (?-?), biological father ; Charles Alder Reagh (1888-1979), step-father, a San Francisco attorney? or a pastor or a vagrant? ;
Mother: Lucy Humphrey Erwin (1888-1915) ;
Relatives:
Spouse: Harriet W (Dexter) Reagh (1916-2001), wife, married June 22, 1938 ;
Children: 

Training:
Instructors:
Work: Albert Sheetz-Mission Candy Company, Los Angeles, CA (1940) ;

Taught:
Students:

Member: Painters & Sculptors of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA ;
Exhibited with: Painters & Sculptors of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA (1937) ; “David Gray & Bill Reagh”, Cityscape Foto Gallery, Pasadena, CA (February 1 – March 6, 1979) ; “100 Views of City Hall”, Los Angeles City Hall, Los Angeles, CA (September 14-17, 1979) ; “Bill Reagh : Documents”, Los Angeles Photography Center (April 13 – May 7, 1989) ;
Awards:

Milestones: California State Library, Los Angeles, CA has a repository of the artist’s LA photographs ;