Charles Martin

New Yorker Cover, Cozy Livingroom

This mural study is part of our exhibition America Coast to Coast: Artists of the 1930s San Pedro Post Office: History of Writing Mural South, Preliminary Mural Maquette right panel...

Guy Pene du Bois' "Two Figures in Courtroom" is a WPA era American scene oil painting created in a realistic style. Modernism at its best The work is framed by Heydenryk. Pène du Bois descended from French immigrants who settled in Louisiana in 1738 and was raised in a Creole household. He was born in 1884 in Brooklyn, NY and first studied with William Merritt Chase at the New York School of Art and later continued his training with Robert Henri. Pène du Bois was greatly impressed with Henri's credo that "real life" was subject matter for art and throughout his life a realist philosophy informed his art as well as his parallel career, art criticism. In 1905, Pène du Bois made his first visit to Paris where he painted scenes of fashionable people in cafes rendered in the dark tonalities and impasto associated with the Ashcan School. By 1920, he had achieved his mature style, which was characterized by stylized, rounded, almost sculptural figures painted with invisible brushstrokes. The subjects of his paintings were often members of society whom he gently satirized. In 1924, Pène du Bois and his wife, Floy, left for France where they would remain until 1930. Returning to America showcases pictures the artist produced after this very productive period abroad. After five years of living in France, Pène du Bois was able to observe American life with fresh eyes. His work becomes more psychologically intense and less satirical. In Girl at Table a slender, blond is shown gazing at a small statue that she holds at arm's distance. The meaning is elusive, but a powerful sense of longing is evoked. Similarly, paintings such as Dramatic Moment and Jane are taut with unresolved dialogue. Both pictures depict mysterious interiors in which a lone woman anxiously awaits the denouement of a suspenseful scene. Other pictures, for example, Chess Tables, Washington Square and Bar, New Orleans, recall Pene du Bois's Ashcan origins in their depiction of urban entertainment. During this period, landscape becomes an important subject for Pène du Bois. Girl Sketching...

Jack Hooper "View From the Window" c. 1950s Oil on Canvas 32"x25.25" silver and black wood frame 26.5"x33.25" Unsigned Minor wear consistent with age and ...

Sunflowers, Large Scale Modernist Floral Bouquet Still-Life by Tarmo Pasto. A stunning large-scale modernist oil on canvas still-life of sunflowers by Dr. Tarmo Pasto (American, 1906-1986). This modern floral bouquet still-life, painted by Pasto in 1973, harkens back to Van Gogh's world famous turn-of-the-century depiction of the same subject. Pasto uses a modern and fresh color palette of dark green, light yellow, lavender, and peach in this vibrant modern sunflower portrayal. Signed "Tarmo Pasto" and dated "73" lower right. Presented in a brown painted wood frame. Image size: 38"H x 30"L. Framed size: 44"H x 36"W x 2"D. Dr. Tarmo Pasto was a psychiatrist and artist, who taught psychology and art through the 1970s at California State College at Sacramento since the schools inception. He also authored a book on art...

"Tailor" WPA American Scene Social Realism Modernism Mid Century Modern Fashion The board measures 9 1/2 x 15 1/2. Provenance: Mervin Jules Estate. Bio A painter, illustrator, pri...

"Rosemary" with feather boa - Bay Area Figurative Movement Study Oil on Canvas A dark-haired woman with a feather boa sits propped on a stool surrounded by bright textures and patte...