Robert Freiman

"Portrait of a Man Writing" American Mid-20th Century Oil Painting on Canvas

1956

A strong modernist oil painting depicted in the Mid Centruy by Russian painter Michael Baxte. Mostly known for his abstracted figures on canvas or street scenes, this piece is a wonderful representation of his interior scenes with expressive use of color, shape, and form. Later in his career, Baxte explores Expressionism, infusing both European and North American stylistic trends. This painting measures 32 x 25.5 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...

A strong modernist oil painting depicted in the 1950's of a Boy seated with a bowl of fruits. Comes displayed in a distressed wood frame, signed lower left illegibly. Art measures 1...

An abstract Mid Century city scene with a red moon placed above. This piece is depicted with thick use of paint and complex lines and color placement....

A wonderful portrait of a woman from the 1950's with beautiful blonde hair wearing a white colored shirt. The impressionistic style is very attractive with fast brushwork and dashing...

Artist/ School: French School, signed and dated 57 Title: Self Portrait of an artist at his easel, wearing a yellow sweater. Medium: oil on canvas, u...

Painted at night, a portrait of contemporary painter, Ben Fenske. Lit from above, Fenske sits in a chair, comfortably extending one leg, holding a green beverage bottle. A coat hangs...

Hal Frater's "The Artist as a Young Man" is a striking oil on canvas that captures the essence of the artist himself, rendered in a raw, emotive style. The palette is earthy, with natural browns and creams contrasted against subdued blues and hints of muted red, evoking a sense of both the mundane and the profound. Frater's use of color and form reflect a contemplative mood, a moment of introspection. The artist's gaze is direct and unflinching, suggesting resilience and a deep inner life. This mid-20th-century piece, evocative of American Realism, offers a personal narrative, exploring themes of identity and self-perception. Frater’s technique—visible brushstrokes and a textured application of paint—adds a tangible depth to the work, inviting the viewer to consider the artist's inner world and the time in which he lived. About the Artist: Hal Frater was not just an artist, but a storyteller who left us on February 3, 2008, on the cusp of his 99th birthday. His fifty-year tenure as a commercial artist was a testament to his adaptability and appeal. Yet it was in his private studio where Frater’s true passion lay — painting not for clients, but for his own soul's expression. His work, always striving to capture the nuances of the human spirit, reflected his sharp observational skills. His artistry was honed not in formal schools, but alongside his peers in spontaneous gatherings, painting from life, sharing techniques and critiques that fueled their collective growth. Influenced by the likes of Jack Levine, Raphael Soyer, John Sloan, Thomas Hart Benton, Reginald Marsh, and Phillip Reisman...

Artist/ School: French School, mid 20th century, signed with initials and fully verso. Title: Portrait of a Man sitting writing, wearing spectacles and a green jacket/ jumper. Me...