WPA? Painting: 'Pogue'?

Hi again. This painting is old, but not sure how old. It reminded me of some of the WPA-era architectural / urban paintings I've seen before. I'm thinking that the frame is original.

I'd love any help with the name, and / or any and all comments.

Canvas measures 14" wide, 22" tall (36 x 56 cm). Found in an antique mall in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Thanks as always!

 

Pogue? Although the middle letter looks like it could be an S.

 

Yes, Pogue is what I meant to write in the title. Changed now.

Could also be 'Rogue'

 

What a shame the label has torn off, leaving just that tantalizing fragment.

 

Long shot, maybe search old photos of Cincinnati's Mount Adams area.

 

A good idea. Lots of hills around here!

 

Pogue's was a famous Cincinnati department store throughout the 20th century, so maybe some connection to that family (if that's the signature).

 

Frank/Francisco/Francis?

 

My quick editing skills:

 

And just noticed this handwriting on the back: '#1 Woman.....'

 

Are there more letters of that EA sign visible behind the frame?

 

Not really. I kind of looked in there and I don't see the edge of any other letter. Maybe it's a billboard that says 'Eat....'??

 

I think F. Pogue. Does have a WPA feel about it. Though this was obviously for sale at some point, I don't think by a trained professional artist. I don't get that flying carpet with a building on it at the center. What is that supposed to represent?

 

It's a fence on the property line. Looks like land was terraced at some point. But, agree. Doesn't look like the work of a fully trained artist.

Debora

 

Thanks for the comments. I agree the ground is kinda monochrome and in-differentiated. There also seems to almost be two perspectives too, the low foreground, and then the rest of the image.

 

Yes, the artist didn't quite get the linear perspective right.

Debora

 

I think it's quite an interesting work. Is that a dog in the lower right hand corner?

Debora

 

Might be! I had thought it was a fire hydrant, but it does look like a dog.

 

Here is another painting signed F. Pogue that was sold at auction in January: https://www.ebth.com/items/14365030-f-pogue-mountainous-landscape-watercolor-painting

The sig looks different, but is printed in block letters as yours is. And on the back there is an inscription signed by "F. P. Nelson." I looked for "F. Pogue Nelson" online and found a WikiTree genealogy entry that AI says could be Frances Law (Pogue) Nelson of Cincinnati (1896-1988). However, WikiTree wouldn't let me go to her direct entry because I don't have a login and it says they have had too many malicious bots and are keeping anonymous users out. The link that I found goes to a general Pogue genealogy page: https://www.wikitree.com/genealogy/POGUE

I just looked in Ancestry, and somebody posted a picture of an article about her death. It says she was "an active Cincinnati civic leader and a Cincinnati artist."
It also goes on to list many arts organizations to which she belonged... and that she even exhibited in local art shows dedicated to her work. She also belonged to a painters' group. During World War I she drove for the Red Cross Motor Corps.

Based on the above, I'm sure her painting skill improved over time.

Anyway, it seems likely to be the right person. And I'll have to say thanks to AI for giving me information that apparently it could see in Wikitree, but I couldn't!

 

Thank you for the great researching @Figtree3! That looks promising, and seems to match my guess at the time frame of the 1930's or so. I really appreciate your help!