A rare and intriguing mid-20th-century oil portrait, believed to be a childhood likeness of Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Art Buchwald (1925–2007), painted by his older sister, the artist Edith Jaffe (1920–2013).
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THE PAINTING
A loosely brushed, expressive oil on canvas depicting a young boy in a blue flat cap and dark green zip-front jacket, set against a soft yellow-green ground. The brushwork is confident and painterly, with visible impasto on the cap and warm, naturalistic skin tones. Signed "E. Jaffe" at the lower right.
The boy's intense gaze and slight smile give the portrait a quiet, introspective character — consistent with Edith Jaffe's known style as a portrait painter working in oils and pastels.
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THE INSCRIPTION
The reverse of the canvas bears a handwritten paper label reading:
"Edith Jaffe / Art Buchwald"
This inscription, together with the signature, the apparent age of the sitter, and the mid-century period of the frame, strongly suggests this is a portrait of Art Buchwald as a young boy, painted by his older sister.
Note: Attribution is based on the verso inscription and circumstantial evidence. The work has not been independently authenticated by the Buchwald family or estate. Sold as found, with all evidence visible in the photographs.
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ABOUT EDITH JAFFE (1920–2013)
Edith Jaffe was the older sister of beloved American humorist and Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post columnist Art Buchwald. According to her obituary in The Seattle Times, she was a "highly respected artist, working originally in oils, and then pastels." She lived in Bellevue, Washington from 1992 until her passing in 2013.
Edith and Art's bond was unusually close — both spent part of their early childhood in foster care and a Hebrew Orphan Asylum after their mother's hospitalization, an experience that shaped them both. A family portrait painted by Edith of her younger brother carries genuine biographical weight.
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PROVENANCE
Acquired by SWCurated at an estate sale in Bellevue, Washington (98005) in April 2026, alongside a companion oil portrait by the same artist (available separately in our shop). The estate was not directly Edith Jaffe's; the paintings appear to have been collected by a private owner during or after her lifetime.
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DETAILS
- Medium: Oil on canvas - Size: Approx. 12 × 15 inches (canvas), 16 × 19 inches (framed) - Frame: Original Anco Bilt period frame in tan wood with pale green linear accents and linen liner - Signed: "E. Jaffe" lower right - Verso: Handwritten paper label "Edith Jaffe / Art Buchwald" - Condition: Very good for age. Canvas is taut and clean; minor age-related spotting on frame; no visible paint loss or restoration - Hanging hardware: Original wire and hooks intact
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A genuinely unusual find for collectors of American journalism history, mid-century portraiture, or family-painted celebrity likenesses. Whether displayed for its painterly qualities or its remarkable possible connection to one of America's most beloved columnists, this painting tells a quiet, layered story.
Ships fully insured with professional fine-art packing. No returns — please review all photographs carefully before purchasing.
