Sketch portrait of Dale Holcomb

Edgar Miller
1933
Graphite on board
L 66, W 54 cm (irreg.)

Miller's total count of sketch portraits likely number in the tens of thousands, most contained within sketchbooks he kept by his side at all times, and which he used for practice when he was out and about in the world: on a bus, at a café, or in a waiting room. This sketch of Dale Holcomb, who would later become his second spouse, is a remarkable piece of historical art, in that it was made at about the exact time the two artists met each other while working at the Streets of Paris concession of the Century of Progress World's Fair in Chicago in 1933.

Miller was hired as the de facto artistic director for the Streets of Paris by his friend, architect Andrew Rebori, and was likely involved in hiring the many artists whose role it was to make quick sketches of visitors for a small fee, as visitors would expect to find on a trip to the actual city of Paris. It is unknown if Edgar knew Dale before they met at this venue, but apparently they took an immediate liking to each other. While Edgar was not a regular sketch artist for the concession, he obviously felt compelled to show off his talent to Dale by sketching her portrait, which he cherished and kept with him for the rest of his life.