In 1942 he moved
to Woodstock, NY to complete a Section of Fine Arts mural. Once World
War II began, the government's attention was fully engaged with activities
relating to the war. It was felt that WPA projects were superfluous,
and since there was no longer need for them, money was withdrawn and
these projects were put out of business. The government took all of
the remaining easel paintings, prints, and any other art from the
projects and held an auction. Lehman says, "They auctioned everything
off. All of these things were sold by the pound, not by the artwork."
From 1942-46 Lehman was very involved with art as a social and political
statement. He did many paintings and constructions, and organized and
directed shows along these lines at the Woodstock Art Association Gallery.
In 1943, Lehman submitted two posters for the Museum of Modern Art's
War Poster Show. Both Deliver Us From Evil
and This Is the Enemy were chosen for the show which was
held at MOMA and traveled throughout the country.
Lehman stayed in Woodstock throughout the War until 1946 doing mural, paintings, drawings,
and several works for the war effort. The Treasury Department had paintings
done specifically for the government's War Bond drives and artists were
commissioned through the Associated American Artists Gallery in New
York. It was through the AAA Gallery that Lehman was hired to do numerous
works relating to the War.
