Hubert Julian Stowitts Paintings

Hubert Julian Stowitts was an American painter and dancer, born on July 25, 1892, in Rushville, Nebraska. He emerged as a significant figure in both the performing and visual arts scenes of the early 20th century, known for his unique blend of dance and painting, particularly his contributions to the revival of dance as a serious art form in America and his ethnographic depictions of dancers from various cultures.

Stowitts's journey into the arts began at the University of California, Berkeley, where he initially pursued studies in law before shifting his focus to art and dance. His transition into the dance world was marked by his association with the pioneering dancer and choreographer Ruth St. Denis, a leading figure in the American Denishawn School of Dancing and Related Arts. Under St. Denis's mentorship, Stowitts honed his skills as a dancer and soon became a notable performer in his own right, known for his athleticism and expressive style.

In the 1920s, Stowitts's career took him to Europe, where he gained fame not only as a dancer but also as a painter. His paintings often focused on the human form, drawing inspiration from his experiences in dance. He exhibited a keen interest in the cultural diversity of dance, embarking on extensive travels to Asia, where he studied and painted dancers from India, Java, Bali, and other cultures. These works were celebrated for their vibrant color, dynamic movement, and ethnographic accuracy, contributing significantly to Western perceptions of non-Western dance traditions at the time.

Stowitts's contributions to art and dance were not without controversy. In the 1930s, his exhibition of paintings featuring athletes of the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics faced criticism from the Nazi regime in Germany for its depiction of Aryan athletes in what they deemed an unfavorable light. This led to the cancellation of the exhibition's scheduled stop in Berlin, highlighting the political tensions of the era and the role of art in international discourse.

Despite these challenges, Stowitts continued to work and exhibit his art throughout the 1940s and early 1950s. His legacy as an artist and dancer is marked by his pioneering efforts to bridge cultural divides through art, his innovative approach to dance performance, and his contributions to the understanding and appreciation of global dance traditions.

Hubert Julian Stowitts died on February 8, 1953, in Pasadena, California. His work remains a testament to his vision of art as a universal language, capable of transcending cultural and political barriers and celebrating the diversity and beauty of human expression across the world.