Jenne Magafan was an American artist known for her work as a muralist during the New Deal era. Born in 1916 in Chicago, Illinois, she and her twin sister, Ethel, were both talented artists from a young age. Their family moved to Colorado, which provided the sisters with the scenic Western landscape that would greatly influence their artistic style.
Jenne's artistic career was shaped by the socio-economic context of the United States during the 1930s. During the Great Depression, the U.S. government created several programs aimed at providing work for artists. Jenne, along with her sister, became involved in these New Deal art projects, most notably the Section of Painting and Sculpture (later known as the Section of Fine Arts) which was part of the Treasury Department.
Her murals often depicted the life and landscapes of the American West with a focus on social themes and community life. One of her notable works is the mural 'Hunters, Red and White,' which she completed for the post office in Anadarko, Oklahoma. Her style blended realism with a certain lyrical quality, capturing both the beauty and the hardships of rural America during this time.
Jenne Magafan's career was cut tragically short when she died in 1952 at the young age of 36. Despite her brief career, she left behind a legacy of work that remains on display in public buildings across the United States, serving as a testament to the talent and contributions of artists under the New Deal arts projects.
