Skip to main content
Video Loading
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 10

Lionel Gilbert
Tablescape (Mid-Century Abstract, Cubist Still Life Painting in Grey & Blue)

c. 1960

$13,200
£10,137.03
€11,616.91
CA$18,582.34
A$20,816.33
CHF 10,847.20
MX$253,916.23
NOK 137,843.09
SEK 129,976.21
DKK 86,705.47

About the Item

Tablescape (Mid-Century Modern Abstract and Cubist Style Oil Painting on canvas) by New York School Painter and WPA artist, Lionel Gilbert Mid century modern, abstracted still life painting, c. 1960 oil on canvas, 40 x 50 inches 41.5 x 51.5 x 2 inches with brand-new walnut floater frame Signed, lower left This horizontal painting was painted by Lionel Gilbert around 1960. The mid-century modern, abstracted still life is created with a cubist influence where three-dimensional objects are depicted in multiple perspectives. Here the artist captures a simple table composition against a light grey background. A blue and grey checkboard tablecloth, lush green plants, and accents of orange and terracotta lend visual intrigue to a common domestic scene. Expressionist brushwork attributes to a lightly impasto surface, while a more controlled technique is used for detail. The painting is complemented with a custom walnut floater frame, is in excellent condition, and ready to hang. About the work: Lionel Gilbert moved back and forth between abstraction and figuration, at once describing specific objects and presenting flat, unrecognizable forms. The artist, born in 1912, was a prolific painter from the nineteen-thirties until his death. For years, Gilbert worked as a mural artist and an illustrator, creating images that not only represented reality, but documented history. In the sixties, Gilbert’s direction shifted: no longer using the paint to tell stories, Gilbert began to explore what the paint itself—its materiality, color—can reveal, independent of its descriptive capacity. Gilbert's work calls to mind Matisse, Braque, and Leger in their cubist sensibility and handling of space. About the Artist: Gilbert fell in love with art at an early age and began his training at the age of 12 at the Newark School of Fine and Industrial Art in 1924. Upon graduating, Gilbert moved to France to study at L’Academie de la Grande Chaumier for five years. The young artist returned to the US in 1938 and like many artists living during the Great Depression, Gilbert sought employment with the nation’s W.P.A program, creating large murals in many public buildings in the US. During WWII, he was sent to England as an official U.S. Air Force artist to portray various aspects of Air Force life. After the war, Gilbert became a full time artist and instructor. He went on to show his work in various galleries in New York City through the 1980’s and taught at the 92nd Street Y Art Center. Rather than placing focus on the act of painting itself, as many Abstract Expressionists did, Gilbert chose to involve himself with the abstraction of his subject matter. This led him to replace rapid brushstrokes for blocks of color that were oftentimes organized around semi-automatist forms, which is reminiscent of the work that preoccupied Hans Hoffman in the 1950’s. Lionel Gilbert (Born in Newark, NJ) 1924 Began studying at the Newark School of Fine & Industrial Art in their Saturday program for children. 1933 Graduated from the Newark School of Fine & Industrial Art, Newark, NJ. 1933-37 Studied in Paris at L’Academie de La Grande Chaumiere and privately with Salcia Bahnc and Suzanne Valadon. 1937 Moved to Glencoe, IL. 1938-40 Became part of Chicago’s W.P.A. (Works Project Administration) program in its easel painting division. Worked as an easel painter and taught painting and drawing at the Winnetka Community Art House through the W.P.A.’s program. 1940-41 Studied with Laszlo Moholy-Nagy at the Chicago School of Design. 1942 Worked in Chicago as a professional photographer and illustrator for the Kling Studios. 1942-46 Relocated to Cleveland, OH to work as an illustrator for Kling’s studio in Cleveland. 1946 Moved to New York City as a freelance illustrator. Illustrations were published in numerous magazines including American Magazine, Women’s Home Companion, Family Circle and Collier’s. 1955 Was appointed a United States Air Force artist and was sent to England to paint pictures depicting various aspects of Air Force life in and around air force bases in England. 1955-57 Studied painting with Sam Adler at New York University. 1957-64 Moved to Toronto, Canada and was head illustrator for Art Associates. 1964-65 Moved to New York City and continued to work as an illustrator for the Charles Cooper Studio. 1965 Began painting full-time and giving private art lessons; ceased working as an illustrator. 1968 Became affiliated with Alonzo Gallery and had numerous solo and group exhibitions at the gallery from 1968 through the early 1980’s.
  • Creator:
    Lionel Gilbert (1912 - 2005, American)
  • Creation Year:
    c. 1960
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 41.5 in (105.41 cm)Width: 51.5 in (130.81 cm)Depth: 2 in (5.08 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Hudson, NY
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU22716008092

More From This Seller

View All
Studio Corner (Mid-Century Modern Abstract, Cubist Still Life of Interior Scene)
By Lionel Gilbert
Located in Hudson, NY
Studio Corner (Geometric Abstract Oil Painting in Yellow, White, Orange & Blue) by New York School Painter and WPA artist, Lionel Gilbert Mid century modern, abstracted still life pa...
Category

1960s Abstract Geometric Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Abstract Yellow & Green (Mid-Century Modern Abstract, Table Still-Life Painting)
By Lionel Gilbert
Located in Hudson, NY
Abstract Yellow and Green (Yellow, Green and Black Tablescape Oil Painting) by New York School Painter and WPA artist, Lionel Gilbert Signed, lower left This horizontal painting was...
Category

1680s Abstract Geometric Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Acreage (Abstract Expressionist Oil on Canvas Painting in Tones of Blue & Taupe)
By James O'Shea
Located in Hudson, NY
Gestural, abstract expressionist oil painting on canvas in tones of blue and taupe, with pops of ochre and mauve Painted by Hudson Valley based artist, James O'Shea in 2021 Oil on c...
Category

2010s Abstract Expressionist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Elemental Drift (Grey, Blue, & White Abstract Expressionist Oil Painting)
By Ragellah Rourke
Located in Hudson, NY
Elemental Drift Grey, White , Blue Abstract Expressionist Painting Made by Ragellah Rourke in 2025 oil on canvas 36 x 48 inches, unframed The sides are cleanly painted light grey so ...
Category

2010s Abstract Expressionist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Parallel Fields (Sky and Pastel Blue Gestural Abstract Painting on Canvas)
By Ragellah Rourke
Located in Hudson, NY
Parallel Fields (Brightly Colored Square Abstract Painting on canvas with a cool, pastel blue palette) by Ragellah Rourke 2024 oil on canvas 48 x 48 inches The sides are cleanly pain...
Category

2010s Contemporary Abstract Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Morandi Bottle (Abstract, Cubist Still Life Graphite Drawing with Antique Frame)
By David Dew Bruner
Located in Hudson, NY
Abstract modernist style still life graphite and acrylic painting inspired by Giorgio Morandi's bottle still life paintings "Morandi II” by Hudson Valley artist, David Dew Bruner, m...
Category

2010s Abstract Still-life Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, Graphite

You May Also Like

Still Life, Cubist Oil Painting by John F. Leonard
Located in Long Island City, NY
Still Life (67) John F. Leonard American (1921–1987) Date: circa 1970 Oil on Canvas Size: 18 in. x 35 in. (45.72 cm x 88.9 cm)
Category

1970s Cubist Still-life Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

La Table grise
By Francisco Bores
Located in Madrid, ES
FRANCISCO BORES Spanish, 1898 - 1972 LA TABLE GRISE signed and dated "Borès 48" (lower right) oil on canvas, laid on wood panel 25-5/8 x 32 inches (65 x 81 cm.) framed: 32-1/3 x 40 i...
Category

1940s Cubist Still-life Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

20th Century French blue abstract still life
By Maurice Potier
Located in Petworth, West Sussex
Maurice Potier (French, 1926 – 2002) Vase bleu et fruits (Blue vase and fruits) Oil on canvas Signed ‘M Potier’ (lower right) 27.1/2 x 23.5/8 in. (70 x 60 cm.)
Category

20th Century Abstract Still-life Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Mid-Century Modern Swedish Original Abstract Oil Painting - Still Life in Angles
Located in Bristol, GB
STILL LIFE IN ANGLES Size: 39.5 x 47.5 cm (including frame) Oil on board A mid-century still life painting that presents an abstract yet structured arrangement of everyday objects, ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Still-life Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

"Untitled" Albert Heckman, 1950s Modernist Abstracted Still Life Painting
By Albert Heckman
Located in New York, NY
Albert Heckman Untitled, circa 1950 Signed lower right Oil on canvas 21 1/4 x 29 inches Albert Heckman was born in Meadville, Western Pennsylvania, 1893. He went to New York City to try his hand at the art world in 1915 after graduating from high school and landing a job at the Meadville Post Office. In 1917, at the age of 24, Heckman enrolled part-time in Teachers' College, Columbia University's Fine Arts Department to begin his formal art education. He worked as a freelance ceramic and textile designer and occasionally as a lecturer at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. In the early 1920s, at the age of almost 30, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Columbia Teachers College. He was especially impacted by his instructor at Columbia, Arthur Wesley Dow. After graduating, he was hired by the Teachers' College as a Fine Arts instructor. He stayed with Columbia Teachers' College until 1929, when he left to attend the Leipzig Institute of Graphic Arts in Leipzig, Germany. Isami Doi (1903-1965), who was born in Hawaii, was arguably his most impressive student at Columbia. Doi is now regarded as one of the most prominent artists hailing from Hawaii. Heckman became an active member and officer of the Keramic Society and Design Guild of New York in the 1920s as part of his early commercial art career. The Society's mission was to share knowledge and showcase textile and ceramic design exhibits. In 1922, Heckman married Florence Hardman, a concert violinist. Mrs. Heckman's concert schedule during the 1920s kept Albert and Florence Heckman apart for a significant portion of the time, but they spent what little time they had together designing and building their Woodstock, New York, summer house and grounds. A small house and an acre of surrounding land on Overlook Mountain, just behind the village of Woodstock, were purchased by Albert and Florence Heckman at the time of their marriage. Their Woodstock home, with its connections, friendships, and memories, became a central part of their lives over the years, even though they had an apartment in New York City. Heckman's main artistic focus shifted to the house on Overlook Mountain and the nearby towns and villages, Kingston, Eddyville, and Glasco. After returning from the Leipzig Institute of Graphic Arts in 1930, Mr. Heckman joined Hunter College as an assistant professor of art. He worked there for almost thirty years, retiring in 1956. Throughout his tenure at Hunter, Mr. Heckman and his spouse spent the summers at their Woodstock residence and the winters in New York City. They were regular and well-known guests at the opera and art galleries in New York. Following his retirement in 1956, the Heckmans settled in Woodstock permanently, with occasional trips to Florida or Europe during the fall and winter. Mr. Heckman's close friends and artistic career were always connected to Woodstock or New York City. He joined the Woodstock art group early on and was greatly influenced by artists like Paul and Caroline Rohland, Emil Ganso, Yasuo Kuniyoshi, Andre Ruellan, and her husband, Jack Taylor. Heckman operated a summer art school in Woodstock for several years in the 1930s with support from Columbia University, where these and other Woodstock artists gave guest lectures. The Potter's Shop in New York City hosted Mr. Heckman's first art show in December 1928. The exhibit received some positive reviews from critics. The American Institute of Graphic Arts chose the plate of "Wehlen, Saxony" as one of the "Fifty Prints of the Year in 1929." There were sixteen etchings displayed. The remaining plates depicted scenes in Saxony, Germany, while five of the plates were based on scenes in Rondout, New York. Heckman started switching from etching to black and white lithography by the early 1930s. A lifelong admirer of Heckman's artwork, Mr. Gustave von Groschwitz organized a significant exhibition of Heckman etchings and lithographs at the Ferargil Gallery in New York City in 1933. The exhibition traveled to the Stendahl Galleries in Los Angeles (May 1933), the Charles Lessler Gallery in Philadelphia (May 1933), J.L. Hudson in Detroit (June 1933), and Gumps in San Francisco (July 1933). Together with his early etchings, the exhibition featured brand-new black and white lithographs depicting scenes in and around Woodstock as well as "A View from Tudor City...
Category

1950s American Modern Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Signed Midcentury Cubist Still Life Interior Table Scene with Fruit Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
A striking oil on canvas still life rendered in a late Cubist idiom, this 1968 composition by V. Melo presents a disciplined yet expressive tabletop scene. The spatial relationships ...
Category

1960s Cubist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board