Jean Dufy

Le jour au marche, Place de l'Abbaye a Preuilly-sur-Claise

Mid 20th Century

Fortunino Matania 1881-1963 Italian Piccadilly Circus Signed “Matania” (center, on bus) Watercolor and gouache on paper This exceptional watercolor and gouache composition by fam...

Emil Nolde 1867-1956 German Marschlandschaft (mit drei Häusern) Marshland (With Three Houses) Signed “Nolde” (lower right) Watercolor on Japan paper A work of engaging richness and emotion, Marschlandschaft (mit drei Häusern) invites the viewer directly into the heart of the intuitive, poetic world of Emil Nolde. An essential figure in the German avant-garde, Nolde’s highly modern oeuvre stands as an important precursor to the Abstract Expressionists of the mid-20th century. With its vivid colors and emotional intensity, the present work is exemplary of his output, containing all of the best characteristics of his mature style. Brilliant, amorphous fields of color suggest the vast, marshy landscape of Nolde’s native Schleswig-Holstein region near the German-Danish border. The artist’s application of paint is powerful and dramatic, conveying with a few brushstrokes the impression of passing storm clouds, allowing light and sky to peek through and illuminate the colors of his landscape. A sense of fluidity and immediacy were of great importance to Nolde. He once said, “I try to avoid all thinking. A vague concept of color and luminosity suffices, and the picture evolves during the act of painting.” The flow and spontaneity of watercolor lent themselves well to Nolde’s creative approach, and he achieved a vibrancy in the medium that is unsurpassed. Nolde is considered one of the most important exponents of German Expressionism and was one of the most prominent representatives of the avant-garde in Germany. His participation in the seminal group Die Brücke (The Bridge) links him to one of the earliest artists' associations which had a crucial impact on the development of modern art. His interplay of color and form set him apart from his contemporaries, and his work is recognized as a monumental step toward modernism. However, Nolde’s work was derided in his day by the Nazi regime in Germany, and he was forbidden from painting. Deemed too “decadent,” 33 of his works were displayed in the infamous Entartete Kunst, Degenerate Art Exhibition in Munich in 1937, labeling the artist's works as a “threat” to Germany. The Nazi Party destroyed hundreds of Nolde's works and confiscated over one thousand more — the greatest number of any artist — highlighting the rarity of the present composition. Throughout his career, Nolde received numerous awards, including the Print Prize of the XXVL Venice Biennale and the Order “Pour le mérite...

"A Norman Peasant's Home," (Near Caudebec -en-Caux, Seine, France); and also identified as, "Peasant's Doorway." by Hezekiah Anthony Dyer. This area would be considered Normandy hence the title. Watercolor and gouache on archival paper. Signed lower left by the artist. Condition is very good. Included with the purchase is dated 1925 correspondence between the artist and purchaser of the painting with apologies from the artist for the painting not being shipped from Newport on time. Recently professionally custom double matted and framed under glass. Overall framed measurements are 19.25 by 15.5 inches. Provenance: Rhode Island collector. H. A. Dyer 1872 - 1943 Historical Rhode Island artist Hezekiah Anthony Dyer, son of Elisha and Nancy Anthony Dyer , was born into a prominent Rhode Island family, having both his grandfather and father serve as governor of the state. A descendent of the Hoppin family, known for their own artistic inclination, Dyer inherited both an interest in the arts as well as his father’s interest in public affairs. He fulfilled his destiny by becoming a notable figure in Rhode Island politics and public service as well as an accomplished artist. Dyer attended boarding school at St. Paul’s Church in Concord, New Hampshire and then went on to attend Brown University. Following his graduation from Brown in 1894, Dyer became serious about pursuing an art career and made the decision to travel abroad to Holland, Italy and France where he focused on refining his watercolor technique. Following his initial trip to Europe, Dyer returned to Providence and attended classes at the Rhode Island School of Design. By 1919 he received an Honorary Masters of Arts Degree from Brown University. Throughout his life, Dyer traveled to Europe for several months of each year to paint. He had a particular affinity for European seascapes and landscapes, as well as for picturesque scenes of old European villages. Dyer’s travels took him throughout the continent including Belgium, Brittany, Normandy, England and both the Swiss and Italian Alpine regions. Hezekiah was heavily influenced by the English School of painting, and in the early years of his career as a painter, worked exclusively in a deliberately realistic style. During this time, Dyer also began showcasing his paintings in exhibits that consisted of only his own work and which were very successful. As his painting progressed, Dyer allowed himself to experiment more in the field of watercolor. He developed a technique of painting on grey or tan paper and would paint everything lighter than the paper using an opaque gouache, and everything darker than the paper in transparent washes of color. This technique allowed Dyer to represent a great deal of detail not usually found in watercolor paintings. It also resulted in wonderfully vibrant colors that would not fade when dry. H. A. Dyer was a prominent member of both the art community and of Rhode Island public life. While he never held an office, Dyer became very involved in politics and from 1916 to 1919 was president of the Republican Club of Rhode Island. At the beginning of the First World War, Hezekiah was made chairman of the speaker’s bureau for the Food Administration of Rhode Island, and was later made chairman of the speaker’s bureau for the Council of Defense. Dyer also became a chairman for a philanthropic organization called Rhode Island of the Fatherless Children of France. In 1922, France presented both Hezekiah Dyer...

The paper size is 30 1/8 x 44 inches