Gregory Rudd (American, B. 1952) "Paul Bunyan" Signed lower left. Original Oil painting on Cold Press Illustration Board.
Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation.
This painting is the original painting which appeared on the Fleetwood First Day Cover of the 32c Paul Bunyan stamp issued July 11, 1996.
Tales of this folk hero may have originated among the French-Canadian loggers of Quebec or northern Ontario who brought the stories of Paul Bunyan with them from their native lands. It is also possible that the legend began in the United States, in Michigan or Wisconsin, and traveled westward with the logging industry. Stories of Paul Bunyan were told by veteran lumberjacks to entertain each other and to keep young newcomers in their place. When a "green" lumberjack boasted of his exploits, the old hands told how Paul Bunyan overcame a greater, more difficult challenge. The legend of Paul Bunyan centers around a mythical hero, a giant lumberjack, who solves problems using extraordinary cleverness and skill. Paul is never at a loss to handle any situation and no job is ever too difficult for him and his Big Blue Ox, Babe. According to legend, Paul Bunyan was born in Maine. As an infant, he rolled around so much in his sleep that he destroyed four square miles of standing timber. He eventually moved west and roamed throughout the woodlands of Minnesota and Wisconsin. Along the way he acquired Babe, his Big Blue Ox. Babe was so big that every time they shod him, a new iron mine had to be opened on Lake Superior. Paul didn't need a gun to hunt timber wolves. He would grab them by the ears and holler down their throats. The wolves died of fright and Paul would tie their ears in a bow knot, stringing the carcasses over his fingers to carry them back to camp.
Image Size: 13.75 x 11.75 in.
Overall Size: 17 x 15 in.
Unframed.
(B15390)
Condition
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