20th Century Figurative Paintings

A strong modernist oil painting depicted in 1971 by Russian painter Michael Baxte. Mostly known for his abstracted figures on canvas or street scenes, this piece is a wonderful representation of his landscape paintings, with expressive use of color, shape, and form. Later in his career, Baxte explores Expressionism, infusing both European and North American stylistic trends. This piece is from later in his career, but we can feel this underlying style throughout. Art measures 18 x 21.75 inches Michael Posner Baxte was born in 1890 in the small town of Staroselje Belarus, Russia. For the first half of the 19th century it was a center of the Chabad movement of Hasidic Jews, but this group was gone by the middle of the 19th century. By the time the Baxte family immigrated to the United States at the beginning of the 20th century, the Jewish population numbered only on the hundreds. The native language of the Baxte family was Yiddish. It is likely that the death of Michael Baxte’s father triggered the family’s immigration. Three older brothers arrived in New York between 1903 and 1905. Michael and his mother, Rebecca, arrived in 1907. By 1910 Michael, his mother, and brother, Joseph, were living in New Orleans and may have spent some time on a Louisiana plantation. Around 1912, Michael Baxte returned to Europe to study the violin. In 1914 he, his mother, and Joseph moved to New York City. Meanwhile, in Algeria, a talented young woman painter, Violette Mege, was making history. Since for the first time, a woman won the prestigious Beaux Art competition in Algeria. At first, the awards committee denied her the prize but, with French government intervention, Mege eventually prevailed. She won again 3 years later and, in 1916, used the scholarship to visit the United States of America. When Violette came to New York, she met Baxte, who was, by then, an accomplished violinist, teacher, and composer. Baxte’s compositions were performed at the Tokyo Imperial Theater, and in 1922 he was listed in the American Jewish Yearbook as one of the prominent members of the American Jewish community. As a music teacher he encouraged individual expression. Baxte stated, “No pupil should ever be forced into imitation of the teacher. Art is a personal experience, and the teacher’s truest aim must be to awaken this light of personality through the patient light of science.” By 1920 Michael Baxte and Violette Mege were living together in Manhattan. Although they claimed to be living as husband and wife, it seems that their marriage did not become official until 1928. On their “unofficial” honeymoon around 1917, in Algiers, Baxte confided to her his ambition to paint. There and later in New Mexico where the wonderful steeped sunlight approximates the coloring of Algiers, she taught him his heart’s desire. He never had any other teacher. She never had any other pupil. For ten years she devoted all her time, energy, and ambition to teaching, encouraging, inspiring him. Then in 1928, their mutual strivings were rewarded, as his works were being chosen as one of the two winners in the Dudensing National Competition for American Painters. Out of 150 artists from across the country participated in the Dudensing, and Michael Posner Baxte and, Robert Fawcett, were the winners. In his 1924 naturalization application, he indicated that he was sometimes known as “Michael Posner Baxte.” One of the witnesses to his application was Bernard Karfiol, a Jewish American artist. That’s when Michael may...

Miquel Torner de Semir (1938) - Surrealist figure - Oil on canvas Oil measures 46x38 cm. Frameless. Miquel Torner de Semir (1938) Catalan painter attracted by the Middle Ages and I...

Delightful gouache fashion sketch of a ballerina style dress in a deep forest green. Fabric swatch attached upper right. Signed lower left. Original ...

French Interior by Y. Blanchon, French 1950's Impressionist watercolour on artist paper, unframed painting: 15 x 22 inches provenance: from a large private collection of this artist...

Poppy Starwars Structural analysis: _ Feeling of the wind in the flowers_ Abstract drippings bring movement to the still life painting. There are 2 systems of contrasts. First one...

Original Oil Painting of the North Rocky Coastline of Ireland by Northern Irish Artist, Joseph McLoughlin (1926-2018) Art measures 16 x 12 inches ...

Jean Dominique Van Caulert, (1897-1979), although most often associated with his celebrity portraits and works for the theater, he was also a true symbolist in the tradition of the Belgian symbolist's. "The Nurturing", oil on canvas, dated 1947, is Van Caulert's depiction of the nurturing of post war Europe, as the shrouded woman offers an apple to an androgynous figure.

The Guitar Player French Modernist artist, circa 1960's period oil on canvas, unframed canvas : 32 x 39.5 inches provenance: private collection, France condition: very good and sound...

Francisco Carbonell Massabe (1928) - Port Lligat Cadaques - Oil on canvas Oil measures 65x81 cm. Frameless.

Artist/ School: French School, 20th century, signed Loiseau Title: Lady reclining in interior setting, window overlooking Provencal landscape beyond. Medium: oil on canvas, unfram...

Muse is a large-scale painting by Contemporary French artist, Pierre-Yves Gervais. With her face turned away from us we can only see the Muses erotic hair pin. This 1994 Oil on Canva...

This is an original unique oil painting by the artist Bernard Pothast, signed in the lower right corner, featuring a mother and her children sitting around the kitchen table. Measu...

Beautiful oil painting of nude study titled "The Red Table Cloth" by Bay Area, California artist Shirley Loyst (American, b-1928), circa 1960. Exhibition...

Algerian women in an interior. Oil on panel. Signed. This work will be recorded in the catalogue raisonné of the work of the artist currently in preparation. Jules Van Biesbroeck w...

Joan Palet (1911 - 1996) - Female figure - Oil on canvas Oil measures 81x65 cm. Frameless. Joan Palet was born in Barcelona on March 28, 1911 in a family of sculptors and wood carve...

Herman Österlund (1873-1964) Sweden Ocean View from the West Coast, 1916 oil on canvas signed and dated Herman Österlund 1916 canvas dimensions 14.37 x 16.73 inches (36.5 x 42.5 cm...

Andrew Thomas Schwartz (American, 1867-1942) The Fates, c. 1900 Oil on canvas 30 x 30 in. Framed: 39 1/4 x 39 in. Andrew T. Schwartz was born in Louisville, Kentucky. His early education was in the public schools of his hometown, where he showed great promise as an artist. In 1890, he began intense art study with the famed Frank Duveneck at the Cincinnati ArtAcademy. He later studied with H. Siddons Mowbray at the Art Students League in New York, where he was awarded the Lazarus Scholarship for mural painting to study abroad, which resulted in three years of study in Italy, France, Germany and England. He was, at the time, only the second person to win that award. His work from the Lazarus trip was the subject of an individual show at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. He returned to the United States to assist his teacher Mowbray in decorating the University Club and J. P. Morgan's private library in New York. He later worked independently and developed a following as a mural painter. His reputation was certainly enhanced by the mural Christ, the Good Shepherd for the Baptist Church in South Londonderry, Vermont, which was considered at the time one of the best examples of mural painting. Other murals were painted for the Courthouse of New York, the New York YMCA, the Atkins Museum of Fine Art in Kansas City and the Kansas City Life Insurance Company Building. Schwartz also painted a number of other paintings in addition to his murals, including both figurative and landscapes. Many of his landscapes are views of New England. He exhibited extensively at the National Academy of Design, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Carnegie Institute in Pittsburgh, and other major cities. He was a member of the National Society of Mural Painters, the Salmagundi Club, the Architectural League of New York, Allied Artists of America, American Watercolor Society, the Circolo Artistico of Rome, Italy, and the Union International Des Beaux Arts et Des Lettres of Paris, France. A memorial show of Schwartz's work was held at the Lotus Club of New York City in 1944 through the efforts of the sculptor, Charles Keck. The dean of art critics of the time, Royal Cortissoz, viewed Schwartz's work before the exhibition in Keck's studio and wrote, "Schwartz could saturate an Italian scene in the handsome 'Roman Twilight' but when he came to paint the countryside of his native land he was moved solely by its racy sentiment. He had charm as well as craftsmanship." Perhaps the best tribute one artist can give another was given Schwartz by the famed American artist, Elihu Vedder...

Mid century oil on canvas portrait of a young woman in a hat by Nino Giuffrida. The painting is signed centre right and is presented in a patinated wood frame. This vibrant painting...

Original oil on canvas painting. Hand signed on front; signed and titled on verso by Charles Levier. Stretched canvas size 39.5 x 29.5 inches. Artwork is in excellent condition. Certificate of authenticity included. All reasonable offers will be considered. About the Artist: Charles Levier (French, 1920–2003) aka Maurice Verrier...

'Portrait of a Young Woman', oil on board, by Anna Costa (circa 1960s). This is a beautifully expressive portrait painted by the artist using vibrant colour...

CARLOS NADAL Spanish, 1917 - 1998 PONT DE VILLE signed "Nadal" (lower right) titled, signed and dated "PONT DE VILLE / Nadal / 1981" (on the reverse) with the atelier stamp (on the r...

Konstanty Szewczenko (1910-1991), signed oil Judaica Oil Painting, Chassidic Rebbe, Polish. Frame: 17 X 15.25 Image: 11.5 X 9.5 Konstantin Shevchenko studied at the Institute of Fine Arts in Warsaw in the years 1927 - 1928. Then, in 1932 he studied painting under the guidance of Kowarski and Pruszkowski at the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts. Practiced easel painting, mostly judaic hassidic rabbi portraits, genre scenes. Among others, a portrait Moscicki, Rydz - Rydz, and after the war Rokossowski.He worked as a set designer. In the years 1934 - 1935 was production designer Variety Theatre. He collaborated with publishing houses with illustrations. He exhibited in Warsaw, Poland, Vienna, Austria and New York. In 1947 he took part in Exhibition Independent Artists Group) and abroad (solo exhibition at the Gallery G. Tomalsky in New York, 1964) . He is one of many great Jewish Polish artists that included Leopold Gottlieb, Maurycy Gottlieb, Henryk Hechtkopf, Leopold Pilichowski, Isidor Kaufmann, Lazar krestin, Alois Heinrich Priechenfried and Itshak Holtz. His works are in the collection of the Museum of the Polish Army. He was an Polish, Austro-Hungarian painter of Jewish themes...

Original Abstract Expressionist Painting - "Lovers’ Embrace" Wonderful example of a vibrant abstract expressionist figurative of couple embracing by ...

"Cruise Ship Rolls In" Mid 20th Century American Contemporary Modern Realism This is one sensational painting. And we can even identify the artist, but can't find anything about the...

"Abstract Composition" by Armand Rottenberg (French 1903-2000) oil painting on board, unframed board: 29 x 21 inches Stunning original Cubist painting by the French abstract artis...

Figural abstract inspired by Chinese art and calligraphy featuring a large totem-like form in textured earth tones with black Chinese characters in bold, black brushstrokes by Anna Wu Weakland...

by Paul-Louis Bolot (French 1918-2003) signed double sided original gouache painting on thick paper/ card unframed condition: very good and sound; the edges have a few curls and scuf...

Title: French Impressionist Oil Painting of a Boat and a Fisherman Near a Lighthouse By Fanch Lel (French b. 1930) Size: 5.25 x 6 inches (height x width) Signed: Yes Oil painting on ...

Ricardo FLORÈS (Alençon, 1878 – Rennes, 1918) Notre-Dame. Grey weather Oil on canvas 46 x 55 cm without frame 65 x 74 with frame 1907 Exhibition: Fourth exhibition of the Société ...

'Betsy Ross Bar & Grill', Santa Cruz Art League, California, Cocktail Hostesses 'The Betsy Ross Bar & Grill', Exhibited: Santa Cruz Art League, California, 1986 Signed lower left, ...

French North African early 20th-century Impressionist, Fishermen coming ashore with their daily catch. André Humbert was born in Paris on the 27th of November. He was a student of t...

This artwork "Young Girl with Her Cat" c.1990 is an oil painting on panel by noted American artist Gunnar Donald Anderson, b.1927 It is signed at the lower right corner by the artist. The panel size is 20 x 16 inches, framed size is 24 x 20 inches. Framed in a wooden gold frame, with fabric liner. It is in excellent condition. About the artist: A painter and illustrator, Gunnar Anderson...

This captivating 1945 oil painting by acclaimed American artist Hayes Lyon beautifully portrays Bessy Lyon, the artist’s wife, in a warm and intimate composition. Rendered in soft ye...

This witty early 20th-century oil painting by British artist Edgar Bundy ARA RI RBA (1862-1922) depicts a young country woman visiting the home of her wealthy relatives, to much dism...

Lilian Westcott Hale Portrait of a Lady (Study for Harriet Blake) Oil on canvas 40 ¼ x 30 ¼ inches A leading American Impressionist working at t...

Portrait Group European artist, mid 20th century Fauvist style work indistinctly signed oil on board, unframed board: 21.5 x 26 inches Provenance: private collection, Paris Conditio...

Six O-Clock, c. 1942, oil on canvas, 30 x 20 inches, signed and titled several times verso of frame and stretcher (perhaps by another hand), marked “Rehn” several times on frame (for the Frank K. M. Rehn Galleries in New York City, who represented Craig at the time); Exhibited: 1) 18th Biennial Exhibition of Contemporary American Oil Paintings from March 21 to May 2, 1943 at The Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. #87, original price $450 (per catalog) (exhibition label verso), 2) Craig’s one-man show at the Frank K. M. Rehn Galleries, New York City, from October 26 to November 14, 1942, #10 (original price listed as $350); and 3) Exhibition of thirty paintings sponsored by the Harrisburg Art Association at the State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg in March, 1944 (concerning this exhibit, Penelope Redd of The Evening News (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) wrote: “Other paintings that have overtones of superrealism inherent in the subjects include Tom Craig’s California nocturne, ‘Six O’Clock,’ two figures moving through the twilight . . . .” March 6, 1944, p. 13); another label verso from The Museum of Art of Toledo (Ohio): original frame: Provenance includes George Stern Gallery, Los Angeles, CA About the Painting Long before Chris Burden’s iconic installation outside of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Urban Light, another artist, Tom Craig, made Southern California streetlights the subject of one of his early 1940s paintings. Consisting of dozens of recycled streetlights from the 1920s and 1930s forming a classical colonnade at the museum’s entrance, Burden’s Urban Light has become a symbol of Los Angeles. For Burden, the streetlights represent what constitutes an advanced society, something “safe after dark and beautiful to behold.” It seems that Craig is playing on the same theme in Six O-Clock. Although we see two hunched figures trudging along the sidewalk at the end of a long day, the real stars of this painting are the streetlights which brighten the twilight and silhouette another iconic symbol of Los Angeles, the palm trees in the distance. Mountains in the background and the distant view of a suburban neighborhood join the streetlights and palm trees as classic subject matter for a California Scene painting, but Craig gives us a twist by depicting the scene not as a sun-drenched natural expanse. Rather, Craig uses thin layers of oil paint, mimicking the watercolor technique for which he is most famous, to show us the twinkling beauty of manmade light and the safety it affords. Although Southern California is a land of natural wonders, the interventions of humanity are already everywhere in Los Angeles and as one critic noted, the resulting painting has an air of “superrealism.” About the Artist Thomas Theodore Craig was a well-known fixture in the Southern California art scene. He was born in Upland California. Craig graduated with a degree in botany from Pomona College and studied painting at Pamona and the Chouinard Art School with Stanton MacDonald-Wright and Barse Miller among others. He became close friends with fellow artist Milford Zornes...

Peaceful Village Scene by the Water signed by Regine David (female French artist, 1910-2018) oil painting on board, unframed measures: 13 x 16 inches condition: This painting is in ...

Signed with initials M.P. (lower right); inscribed Article III. "Irrigation" water let in on a field of alfalfa (in the lower margin) Written on back "February of 1902. Hot Springs,...

This artwork titled "Near Tubac, Arizona" c.1960 is an oil painting on canvas by noted southwestern artist Sid Cedargreen, 1904-2011. It is signed at the lower left corner by the artist. The canvas size is 22 x 30 inches, framed size is 28.5 x 36.5 inches. Framed in original wooden beige and gold frame. It is in excellent condition. About the artist: Sid Cedargreen was a mid-century painter whose art beautifully depicted the desert Southwest. In 1958, Mr. Cedargreen was part of an art collective that transformed Tubac into an art colony. While in Tubac, he founded the Tubac Center for the Arts and the Santa Cruz Art Association. During this time, he was the winner of the distinguished Master Mead award for depicting the Southwest. His paintings are beautiful landscapes featuring areas in Arizona and all around the American Southwest. He continued to live in Arizona and paint its beauty for several years. In 2011, Sid Cedargreen passed away at the age of 89. After he passed away, Mr. Cedargreen's family found a plethora of paintings that Cedargeen had been storing in his house. In his career as an artist, Mr. Cedargreen had many one-man shows, in Scottsdale, Phoenix, Tucson, Nogales, and Tubac, and in Santa Barbara, and Palm Desert, California; in Colorado Springs, Colorado; Ogunquit, Maine and in Taos, Deming, and Santa Fe, New Mexico. He has exhibited in the Camelback Galleries and Adrian Shaw Galleries in Scottsdale; the Hilltop Art Gallery in Nogales; the Fountains Gallery in Tucson; the Plaza Gallery and the Taos Inn in Taos; the Shop of the Rainbow Man in Santa Fe; the Old Town Book Shop in Wickenburg; the Santa Barbara Biltmore...

French 20th-century Impressionist harbor, with fishing boats at sea, with landscape beyond. 20th-century French impressionist harbor scene. The...

Josine Vignon (French 1922-2022) ...

Nativity scene on an architrave of a cathedral, done in the style of Hummel figurines by Helen Gleiforst (American, 1903-1997). Signed "Gleiforst" in t...

Misty Golden Yellow River Landscape with Winter Trees in the English Countryside, by 20th Century British Artist, Christopher Osborne. Art measures 16 x ...

This artwork titled "Amsterdam" c.1960, is an oil painting on canvas by Dutch artist Reinier Wynand Snapper, 1907-1988. It is signed and titled at the lower right corner by the artis...

Nude Woman in Bed with Mirror - Figurative Portrait in Oil on Canvas Modern portrait of a nude woman by American painter, Patricia Gren Hayes (b. 1932). The woman is laying in bed, ...

Maurice Asselin (1882-1947) A Bunch of pansies and nasturtiums Signed lower left Oil on canvas In good condition 35 x 24 cm Framed : 51 x 40 cm Maurice Asselin was particularly f...

This remarkable painting by Ohannes Alkhazyan, a distinguished Russian-Armenian-French artist and a devoted student of Konstantin Korovin, showcases the spiritual magnificence of a r...

This artwork "Sisters" c.1990 is an oil painting on canvas by noted British artist Brenda Burke, b.1957. It is signed at the lower right corner by the artist. The canvas size is 25 x 30 inches, framed size is 33 x 37 inches. Framed in original wooden beige and gold ornate frame, with fabric liner. It is in excellent condition. About the artist: Brenda Burke started to paint at an early age of three years. Her career has spanned more than half a century, encompassing paintings, portraits, sculpture and printmaking. She has trained in the classical style of the old masters at the renowned Farnham art school just outside of London, England and continuing her studies in Florence and Rome, Italy, Burke’s wealth of experience, technical excellence and artistic vision is evident in each of her exceptional works of art. Her work can be seen in private collections around the world. Sometimes known as the Painter of Royalty, Brenda has been chosen to present her work to Her Majesty The Queen of England. She was commissioned to paint the celebratory portrait for Prince Charles and Lady Diana's engagement, and she was again selected to create the painting for the christening of Prince William. Her skill and versatility has also been shown in a collection of limited edition wax and porcelain dolls, dressed in fine silks and antique French lace...

"Sojourner" by Morakinyo Femi is a captivating artwork that presents a young man seated in a fashionable attire, adorned with striking jewelry and sport...

Make an offer on the fabulous Figure Multiple painting by Giancarlo Impiglia, Italian/American (1940). Date: 1989 Oil on Canvas, signed, dated, and title...

Artist/ School: English School, circa 1970's, indistinctly signed lower corner. Title: Playing by the Woodland Stream. Medium: oil painting on canvas, framed. Size: canvas: 20 x ...

French Character Portrait French school, Mid 20th Century Gouache paint on unframed paper stamped to the reverse Image : 12.75 x 9.5 inches Overall size: 25 5 x 19.75 inches Superbl...

Vintage French Oil Painting signed by Louise Alix (French, 1888-1980) *see notes below provenance stamp to the back oil painting on artist paper, unframed measures: 14.5 inches high...

A beautiful, colorful Mid-Century Modern portrait of a seated young woman in a pink dress by famed Chicago Modern artist, Francis Chapin. A fashionably dressed, young model is seate...

Josep Marfa Guarro (1928-2014) Barcelona Spain Oil Oil on canvas glued to cardboard. Oil measures 23x28 cm. Frameless. Josep Marfa Guarro (1928-2014) Josep Marfa Guarro was a Cata...

"Danger" - Original Modernist Oil Painting on Canvas Striking modernist painting by Bay Area artist Jean Hyson (American, 1928-2023). Hard edge oil on canvas depicting a black square to the left of the canvas with a lit up cinema projector. A mans face can be seen appearing in the light coming from the projector. An orange square is seen parallel to the projector, with a yellow circle inside. The number "13" can be seen in the lower right of the orange square. Purple and light blue take up the background. Signed "Hyson" lower right in black square. Titled, signed and dated "Jean Hyson" "Danger 1966" verso. Presented in a purple wooden frame. Frame: 20 1/2"H x 24 1/2"W Image: 19 3/4"H x 24"W Born in Texas, Jean Hyson (American, 1928-2023) is best known for her modernist, sharp edge, paintings. Hyson attended the Art Student League in New York with George Grosz, Yaso Kumiyoshi and William Baziotes and Beaux Artes, Paris, France from 1954-59. She was an Artist in Residence and Instructor at the California College of Arts and Crafts, Oakland from 1970-1974. Her work is held in the Oakland Art Museum, Oakland California, Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Santa Barbara, California and the California Container Corp. of America, Chicago, Illinois. Jean Hyson and her then-husband Jacques Fabert (who typically painted under the name “Jean Faber Himbert”) were an important force within the midcentury San Francisco art scene. Her work has been featured in countless Bay Area gallery and museum exhibitions—including SFMOMA, the de Young, and the Legion of Honor—and is in numerous public and private collections. In a fantastic in-depth interview with Hilda Pertha...

Oil on canvas by Louis BERTHOMME SAINT-ANDRE, France, 1940s. Young Red-haired Woman. with frame: 74x63 cm - 29.1x24.8 inches ; without frame: 61x50 cm - 24x19.7 inches. Format 12F. ...

Oz El Hai (Israeli, b. 1976) Polychrome Figural Painting Lacquer on Wood (possibly acrylic panel) Oz El Hai, born in Israel in 1976, channels his passion an...

Portrait of a Chic Lady French School, 20th century oil on canvas, unframed Canvas : 21.75 x 18 inches Inscribed verso Provenance: private collection, France Condition: very good con...