THELEN, Hubert J., (American, 20th Century): ''The State of the Nation'', Oil/Board, 24'' x 30'', signed lower left, dated 1965. Titled, dated, and numbered 111 on verso, encased in custom extruded aluminum frame, 25 1/2'' x 31 3/4''. #111 From the Artists Raisonne, in his words, ''STATE OF THE NATION, 24X30, 1965 Executed during the term of office of the late president, Lyndon Johnson. In the upper left corner we have a running figure blind-folded by a towel containing the initials J.D. for John Doe. John Doe is running on top of the heavy rock of inflation after a dollar which has two holes in it, implying the declining purchasing power of the dollar. The rock of inflation is bearing heavily upon the smaller rocks below, depicting the faces of widows, orphans, and people with fixed income. On one of the smaller rocks sits a vulture waiting patiently for John Doe. In the water below, we have a shark from Russian waters, as well as a Cuban octopus waiting to join the vulture to devour John Doe. In the center, a ship loaded with gold is leaving the country. The lower right corner portrays, in a half-circle, the burning jungle of Vietnam with a plane falling down in flames. In front of it, champagne bottles are being cooled for the war profiteers. The champagne cork has popped and is going into orbit and pulling up three small balloons marked ''P'' for profit; ''W'' for wages, and ''P'' for prices. The frame was made and antiqued by me.''
CONDITION: Blemish in lower left corner, needs cleaning, sold as is.