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Sylvia Spicuzza
"Still Life with Artist's Hand" original watercolor signed by Sylvia Spicuzza

ca. 1950

$6,000
£4,498.78
€5,215.67
CA$8,373.32
A$9,352.23
CHF 4,859.70
MX$113,891.33
NOK 61,729.08
SEK 58,166.59
DKK 38,915.24
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About the Item

This still life is an unusual example of Sylvia Spicuzza's work, as most of her most significant output are geometric and biomorphic abstract images. The objects in the image - a sea shell, a pitcher, a heavy necklace - are objects the artist likely had at home and staged for the image. But of particular significance is the insertion of the artist's hand, as though she was reaching into the still life while she was painting. The hand has been a significant symbol of the artist throughout art history as a source of creation: Albrecht Dürer's 'Self Portrait at the Age of Twenty-Eight' (1500) highlights the artist's hand much like traditional images of Christ giving gestures of blessing. Likewise, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner's 'Self Portrait as a Soldier' (1915) shows the artist in military uniform but with a severed hand as a symbol of helplessness during the First World War. Another important comparison, given Spicuzza is a Midwestern artist, is Ivan Albright's magic realist work 'That Which I Should Have Done I Did Not Do (The Door)' at the Art Institute of Chicago. The massive painting features a door with a memorial wreath, and at the right a withered hand reaching as a symbol of loss and regret. Thus by including her hand in this simple still life, Spicuzza has followed a long line of artists contemplating the source of creativity and genius, as well as exploring the expressive ability of a hand's gesture. 11.38 x 17.25 inches, artwork 17.5 x 22.88 inches, frame Signed lower right Born in 1908, Sylvia Spicuzza was the daughter of noted painter Francesco Spicuzza. Sylvia's work is rich, diverse and fascinating collection of drawings, watercolors and prints from the 1920's to the 1990's. Her style ranges from early figurative drawings to regionalism, Art Deco, lyrical abstractions of every conceivable subject (both real and imagined), as well as figurative paintings that reflect the work of Picasso, Kandinsky and Max Ernst in the 1930's and 1940's. Biomorphic and organic, Modernist images are presented with Sylvia Spicuzza's own unique sense of style, humor and fantasy.
  • Creator:
    Sylvia Spicuzza (American)
  • Creation Year:
    ca. 1950
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 17.5 in (44.45 cm)Width: 22.88 in (58.12 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Milwaukee, WI
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 2072d1stDibs: LU60535914592

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