The Letter That Changed American Art
In May 1933, George Biddle wrote a pivotal letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, urging the federal government to support unemployed artists through public mural commissions. This single act helped spark the creation of the New Deal art programs that would transform American cultural history.
“The Mexican artists have produced the greatest national school of mural painting since the Italian Renaissance. The United States, with its rich field for mural painting, could do the same if it had the government’s support.”
— George Biddle, letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1933
Biography
George Biddle (1885–1973) was an American painter, muralist, and lithographer whose advocacy helped launch the first federal art programs of the New Deal. Born into a prominent Philadelphia family, Biddle rejected a legal career after Harvard Law School and instead pursued art in Paris, Munich, and Tahiti.
Influenced by the social murals of Diego Rivera and the Mexican muralists, Biddle believed that art should address social issues and serve the public. His vision aligned perfectly with the spirit of Roosevelt’s early New Deal.
Role in the New Deal Art Programs
Biddle’s 1933 letter directly influenced the creation of the Public Works of Art Project (PWAP), the first federal program to employ artists during the Great Depression. His advocacy also shaped later programs, including the Section of Fine Arts and the WPA Federal Art Project.
These programs collectively employed thousands of artists and produced tens of thousands of murals, paintings, and sculptures across the United States.
Artistic Style
Biddle’s work blends social realism, satire, and humanist themes. His murals often depict justice, labor, and the struggles of ordinary people. His most famous mural, Society Freed Through Justice (1936), adorns the Department of Justice building in Washington, D.C.
Legacy
George Biddle’s influence extends far beyond his own artwork. His advocacy helped create the cultural infrastructure that supported American artists during the nation’s hardest years. His vision continues to shape how we understand the role of art in public life.