Wallace DeWolf
Wallace Leroy DeWolf (sometimes cited as De Wolf) was a singular figure in early 20th-century Chicago, balancing a demanding career in law and finance with a brief, focused period of artistic production. Although widely recognized as a prominent real estate magnate and philanthropist, DeWolf’s legacy includes a distinctive group of prints documenting the American West, works now held in major institutional collections, including the Art Institute of Chicago.
Born in Chicago, DeWolf initially trained as a lawyer before transitioning into real estate, founding a successful company in 1894. His professional influence peaked in 1901 when he became the president of the Kellogg Switchboard & Supply Company. His subsequent seven-year tenure was characterized by high-stakes corporate drama, featuring a significant stock controversy that required arbitration by the Illinois Supreme Court and resulted in a major labor strike. It is perhaps telling that this man, so deeply embroiled in the turbulent complexity of early 20th-century corporate life, chose the desolate quiet of the far Western desert as his primary subject for artistic expression.
DeWolf’s identified artistic output, encompassing approximately fifteen known prints, was concentrated almost entirely between 1916 and 1920. His printmaking focus was the arid landscapes of California, capturing the atmospheric stillness of sites often overlooked by contemporary artists. Key works such as Palm Springs, Palo Verde, and the related compositions Mojave Desert and Mojave Desert, No. 2 demonstrate a restrained, sensitive approach to documenting these environments.
Although no Wallace DeWolf paintings are currently emphasized in major collections, his surviving body of work, specifically his high-quality prints, offers a quiet counterpoint to his intense commercial life. These views provide valuable insight into the aesthetic concerns of early American landscape artists working in the medium of printmaking. Today, the enduring legacy of these scenic works is ensured through their institutional preservation; many of these historical Wallace DeWolf prints are now entering the public domain, allowing for royalty-free access to a niche but compelling chapter in American landscape art.
