Preliminary identification
Photo reference
2 uploaded photos
Overview
An original 1931 oil painting on canvas board depicting a dramatic open-pit iron mine explosion in Hibbing, Minnesota. Painted by renowned Minnesota artist Dewey Albinson, the work captures the raw industrial power of the Mesabi Iron Range with a gritty, modernist sensibility.
Story
In 1931, Dewey Albinson stood on the edge of the massive Hibbing open-pit mine, capturing the violent energy of a dynamite blast. This painting documents the rugged, industrial heartbeat of Minnesota's Iron Range during the Great Depression.
Maker / Origin
Dewey Albinson was a prominent Minnesota modernist painter who studied at the Minneapolis School of Art and the Art Students League in New York. He served as the state director of the WPA Federal Art Project in Minnesota from 1935 to 1937, championing regional artists and public art.
Condition & Value
The painting appears to be in good vintage condition with stable paint layers and minor surface grime consistent with age. It is housed in a simple, period-appropriate wooden frame. Professional cleaning could brighten the colors and increase the painting's market appeal.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Build on this identification
Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.