George Tooker

George Clair Tooker, Jr. was an American figurative painter. His works are associated with Magic realism, Social realism, Photorealism, and Surrealism. His subjects are depicted naturally as in a photograph, but the images use flat tones, an ambiguous perspective, and alarming juxtapositions to suggest an imagined or dreamed reality. He did not agree with the association of his work with Magic realism or Surrealism, as he said, "I am after painting reality impressed on the mind so hard that it returns as a dream, but I am not after painting dreams as such, or fantasy." In 1968, he was elected to the National Academy of Design and was a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Tooker was one of nine recipients of the National Medal of Arts in 2007.

5 August 1920

Born on the same birth day (5 August): Erkan Zengin • Joe Boyd • John Huston • Jonathan Silverman • Louise of the Netherlands • Mary Ritter Beard • Samantha Sang • The Dave Clark Five • Tullia (daughter of Cicero) • Wayne Bridge

Born in the same month (August 1920): Baptiste Manzini • Brant Parker • Charles Gibson (historian) • Charlie Parker • Denton Cooley • Elmar Tampõld • Enzo Biagi • Leo Chiosso • Mike Douglas • Norman Dewis • Percy Mayfield • Prem Tinsulanonda