William Harnett's "Music and Literature" Postage Stamps (Four Centuries of American Art Series, Books, Wedding) Vintage Unused USPS Postage 32c

These vintage unused postage stamps will evoke a touch of whimsy and add personality to your mailings!

STAMP INFORMATION:

• Name: William Harnett’s “Music and Literature"
• Series: Four Centuries Of American Art
• Year Issued: 1998
• Face Value: 32 cents each (USD)
• Topic(s): Fine Art, American Artists, Paintings, Still-life, Trompe-l'œil, Music, Literature 
• Color(s): Multicolored 
• Printing Method: Photogravure
• Adhesion Type: Gummed
• Condition: Genuine Unused USPS Postage Stamps, Ready to Use for USPS Mailings, Mint Condition

STAMP HISTORY: This postage stamp featuring Music and Literature (1878) by William Harnett was part of the Four Centuries of American Art series. The original painting showcases an arrangement of objects typically associated with culture and refinement, such as an open book, a violin, sheet music, and a quill pen, carefully placed on a wooden surface. Harnett’s meticulous attention to light, shadow, and texture gives the objects an astonishingly lifelike appearance, emphasizing their materiality and depth. Harnett painted in the trompe-l'œil (French for "fool the eye") style, a hyper-realistic painting technique designed to create the optical illusion of three-dimensional objects.

William Harnett (1848-1892) was a pioneering still-life painter, best known for his meticulous trompe-l'œil compositions, which showcased everyday objects with astonishing realism. His work remains a defining example of American still-life painting in the late 19th century. Harnett was one of the foremost American painters in the trompe-l'œil tradition, and Music and Literature exemplifies his mastery in creating lifelike still-life compositions. The act of combining both music and literature—two elevated forms of human expression—suggests a harmonious union between the physical and the spiritual worlds. Harnett’s meticulous trompe-l'œil style, which gives objects a lifelike, almost tangible quality, can be seen as a metaphor for the manifestation of the divine in the material world. In this sense, Harnett’s work itself becomes a conduit for spiritual reflection, reminding us of the spiritual depth that can be found in everyday objects when viewed with reverence.

STAMP MEANING & SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE: Harnett’s Music and Literature holds rich spiritual significance, particularly when viewed through the lens of its symbolic themes and the artist's intention behind his trompe-l'œil technique. Music is often associated with the soul, transcendence, and emotional expression. It is considered a spiritual language that can connect individuals to higher realms of understanding and divine experiences. The inclusion of a violin, sheet music, and a quill pen symbolizes the spiritual power of creativity, representing both the act of creating and experiencing beauty. Literature is a reflection of human thought, wisdom, and culture. Through books and written words, knowledge is passed down across generations, offering a connection to ancestral wisdom and spiritual enlightenment. The presence of an open book on the canvas can be seen as an invitation to seek knowledge and truth. Music and Literature carries spiritual significance through its symbolic representation of knowledge, creativity, and transcendence, inviting viewers to reflect on the deeper spiritual truths found within art and the interconnectedness of human expression and the divine.

SERIES HISTORY: The Four Centuries of American Art postage stamp series was issued by the United States Postal Service (USPS) on August 27, 1998 in Santa Clara, California, as a pane of 20 commemorative stamps, each with a face value of 32-cents, celebrating the rich history of American visual arts. The purpose of this landmark USPS release, celebrating 20 iconic works from colonial portraiture to modern Pop Art, was to honor the diversity and innovation of American artists across four centuries. This series showcases notable paintings and sculptures from the 17th through the 20th centuries, reflecting the evolution of artistic expression in the United States. Each stamp in this collection depicts a masterpiece from a different time period, spanning from the colonial era to modern American art. The selection includes portraits, landscapes, historical depictions, and abstract works, representing a wide range of artistic styles and movements. This series showcases the diversity of American art across different eras and styles, includes both traditional and avant-garde pieces, reflecting shifts in American society, and serves as a lasting teaching tool to introduce the public to significant American artists.

GUMMED STAMP: This postage stamp has a traditional moisture-activated gum on the back. These stamps require licking or wetting to adhere to envelopes or other surfaces. To ensure good adhesion, apply vintage gummed stamps to your mailings with a glue stick (we recommend using Elmer's "Re-Stick" glue sticks).

GENUINE USPS POSTAGE: These unused vintage postage stamps are perfectly valid for use as current postage for mailing with USPS as long as you use the adequate amount of postage to achieve standard postage rates according to the weight of your mailing. Check current postage rates at USPS.com.

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