GENERAL CHENAULT 1943. Original Offset Lithograph Drawing. [A Portrait Of The Co

[El Paso 1968, Lea]. A black and white sketch, drawn 1943 in Kunming, exceptionally very clean & bright as "New" example, sheet: 39.3 x 28 cm., print: 30.5 x 25.5 cm., signed & dated in block, 1943. FIRST & ONLY SMALL, OBSCURE LIMITED EDITION . . *** **** *** . . . STUNNING REPRESENTATION OF THE STUBBORN AND RESPECTED . . MAJOR GENERAL C. CHENNAULT, COMMANDER OF THE . . "A.V.G." ["AMERICAN VOLUNTEER GROUP"] AND . . THE FOUNDER OF THE "FLYING TIGERS" OF CHINA . * The artist visited General Chennault in Kunming, November 1943. At a meeting with the Chennault, Lea drew this historical sketch conveying the character of the determined, unyielding, and steadfast General of American "FLYING TIGERS." He led the air combat fighting against the larger Imperial Japanese Air Force, throughout Burma and China in World War 2. . Chennault's stubbornness about defeating the Japanese was legendary, and in his words: "FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION." . A superb depiction of Major General Chennault at the top of his career. . *** THE ARTIST -TOM LEA: 1907-2001: Lea was a Texas born artist who drew Texas cowboys, Mexican and American Indian subjects. He was unknown to the rest of the world. . In 1941, Lea was appointed by Life Magazine to be a war correspondent and artist. He was assigned go out into World War 2 among American military forces to paint and sketch dramatic scenes of the war. He visited many theaters of war in Europe and Asia from 1941-1945. His artistic works have been recognized as some of the most important and expressive examples of the brutality of war and the beauty of the places subject to Japanese and German dominance. His works have been displayed nationally. He is a celebrated United States Military artist. . While in China he sketched famous people: General Channel, Madame Chiang Kai-shek and her husband Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek [Jiang Jieshi], also many stunning views of China. . Lea went to China in late 1943, returning in early 1944. His suburb drawings have remained in his private collection unpublished until 1968. In that year he published a number of these historic and incredible examples. . Tom Lea traveled to Kunming, Guilin and Chongqing in October, 1943. In each place he sought out typical Chinese scenes that would depict the plight of the people. . His stunning drawing of war-torn China, its beleaguered people and their struggle to survive under Japanese bombing and domination. A superb record of Chinese history and posterity, during World War 2. . *** Color photos are posted to our website *** REFERENCES: . For more on Tom Lea see wikipedia and also tomlea dot com /the-artist/historical-photographs/the institute devoted to his works. . OCLC Number: 50920725 . *** .