1950s Art

Presenting an original oil and sand on canvas by Italian artist Gastone Breddo, "L'Universo.". Born in Italy in 1915, Breddo worked throughout his life as an abstract/futurist art...

This late 1950s maritime photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features the British ocean liner 'SS Queen of Bermuda' in Hamilton Harbour, Bermuda. This is an es...

This 1954 portrait photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features American actors Lauren Bacall and Judy Garland attending a house party in Beverly Hills. This i...

Abstract Composition in Pink and Black in Acrylic on Cardboard Dynamic abstract in black and pink by Honora Berg (American, 1897-1985). This piece is composed of multiple layers, with bright, bold colors at the bottom, building to black on top. Pink, magenta, yellow, and orange shine through a net of black. Unsigned, but was acquired with a collection of the artist's work. Estate stamp on verso "Estate of Honora Berg - Miller Fine Art" Numbered "246" on verso Unframed. Art size: 21.25"H x 14"W Honora Berg (American, 1897-1985) was an Abstract Expressionist and Bay Area Figurative School artist who studied at the San Francisco Art Institute with David Park, Elmer Bischoff and James Budd Dixon. Berg's friend Edith Truesdell — David Park's aunt — suggested a move to California in 1951 to study under Park. She exhibited at the 25th Annual Drawing, Print and Sculpture Exhibition at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, 1961. Provenance, Estate of Honora Berg - David Carlson Gallery, Larry Miller...

Signed lower left, "Di Gesu" for Victor Di Gesu (American, 1914-1988), dated 1954 and inscribed with Roman numeral "II". Ink drawing of a woman reclining with knees bent, her head r...

Signed lower left "Muriel Backman" for Muriel Durgin Backman and dated 1955. An elegant, Cubist-derived, mid-century view of the old Fisherman's Wha...

Stamped, verso, with estate stamp for Victor Di Gesu (American, 1914-1988) and created circa 1955. An elegant and powerful work by this well-exhibited and well-listed California pai...

Presenting an original oil on panel by American artist Robert McIntosh, c.1958. "Male Torso in Green", is an original oil on panel, signed,c.1958, a painting directly from the personal collection of...

Classic mid-century California seascape watercolor of the crashing surf on the rocky coast by Santa Cruz, California artist Margaret E. Rogers (American, 1872-1961), c.1950. Rogers was one of the original "Jolly Daubers" who studied with Frank Heath and took wagon trips to the redwoods and Yosemite to paint. Signed "M.E. Rogers" lower right. Presented in a rustic giltwood frame under glass. Image, 16.5"H x 18.5"L. Margaret Esther Rogers' (1872 - 1961) early childhood was spent in England. The Rogers were a cultured family who came to California for the father’s health and settled on a ranch in the King City area. Margaret grew up in the curiously paradoxical world of early California, breaking her own riding horses and roping cattle during the day, doing a man’s work, riding a man’s saddle, then sitting down to the piano to play classics in the evening after high tea. Margaret’s mother had the only piano for 80 miles around. Her father, Robert J. Rogers, had been an importer of fine tea, coffee, and spices in England. In Monterey County, he raised sheep and cattle and the family lived under comparatively rustic and modest conditions. When Margaret wasn’t riding, tending a herd, plowing a field, or playing the piano, she was painting. Art was an early love. Fame caught up with her early. She was written up in a San Francisco newspaper as “Monterey County’s pretty girl who rides a man’s saddle, marks and brands stock, breaks wild colts, plows and sows, plays classical music and paints in oils.” Margaret’s mother was her first music and art teacher; later she took art lessons from Kate Baldwin in Salinas. She had suitors and several proposals, but never married. In the year 1898, Margaret’s “intended” put in 700 acres of grain, spending all he had plus money he borrowed. Not a spear of grain grew, she wrote, and their plans to marry when the crop was sold dried up with the weather. When her mother died, Margaret and her father moved to Soquel, taking along her favorite saddle horse. Now living in Santa Cruz County, Margaret at once became involved in art circles which were unofficially headed by Frank Heath and his wife, Lillian Dake Heath. Frank Heath and Margaret together founded Santa Cruz Art League in 1919, and a few months later were joined in their efforts by a Dutch woman named Cor de Gavere who arrived in Santa Cruz. The two women artists, Margaret and Cor, became fast friends and remained so until Cor’s death in July 1955, while she was visiting relatives in Holland. They painted together almost every day and shared many meals at each other’s cottages which were just a few blocks apart in the Seabright area. However, those Victorian ladies, raised in the era of rigid social conventions, always addressed each other as ‘Miss Rogers’ and ‘Miss de Gavere’ as long as they lived. Money was never in great supply for either lady, but Cor managed to buy a small automobile, and after six driving lessons the two of them took off for southern California. Cor and Margaret took many camping and painting trips in Cor’s automobile. Sometime later, Margaret herself got brave enough to buy an auto. From 1925 to 1947, Margaret made her home in the basement of the Arts and Crafts Building. She managed the Art League’s first gallery, which was started there. Holding informal court for friends who called, Margaret would open a can of sardines, put out a plate of crackers, and conversation about art or music would follow. During World War II, Margaret raised rabbits in cages. In later years, Margaret purchased a small studio-home on Alhambra Street – still in the Seabright area, which both women clung to as home territory. In 1929, Margaret helped found the Art League’s first Statewide Show, which became an annual event. She served as show chairwoman for more than 20 years. A fine painter of landscapes, Margaret became better known for her strong marine scenes. Once she explained that the ocean was “the real challenge, because it won’t stand still.” She served as president of the Art League from 1925 to 1947. Short, stocky, outspoken and very talented, Margaret gained many honors in her later years. With her short haircut and her dark dresses...

Detailed watercolor of Monument Valley by Albert DeRome (American, 1885-1959). The viewer is looking out over the valley from a high vantage point, with towering mesas in the distance. In the foreground, there are some shrubs and a small tree to the right side of the composition. DeRome has created a sense of vast distance by rendering the far background with a hazy quality while keeping the foreground in clear focus. Signed "Albert DeRome" in the lower right corner. Inscription on verso as a gift to the artist's mother. Purchased from the estate of the artist Patterson's Antiques, Los Gatos. Presented in a wood frame with a new white mat. Image size: 5.75"H x 8"W Frame size: 11"H x 14"W Born in Cayucos, California, Albert De Rome (American, 1885-1959) became a California landscape painter, especially of natural landscapes formations, seascapes and marine scenes near Carmel and Monterey. Usually his palette was bright in both oil and watercolor, but he did the occasional nocturne. Scholars have compared his painting style and subjects to those of Thomas Hill and Albert Bierstadt. However, Albert De Rome never affiliated with any formal group of painters, although he had many close friends including Percy Gray, Gunnar Widforss and Will Sparks. As a young man, Thomas De Rome worked at the Congress Spring Hotel in Saratoga, and in San Francisco at the Globe Foundry, owned by an uncle. He studied art under Arthur Mathews, John Stanton and Lorenzo Latimer...

Charming mid century country landscape with cottage with thatched roof and chickens foraging. Signed "H. H." and dated "1955." Condition: good; some edge and corner wear consistent w...

Oil landscape showing a view of several age-worn buildings near waters edge, with two sailboats making their way past, and gold and lavender hued hills in the background. Signed low...

In this midcentury snowscape photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, two women recline on improvised sunbeds at the Cranmore Mountain Resort, North Conway, New Hamp...

Mid century Native American portrait by B. Shepard (American, 20th Century). Signed "B. Shepard" lower middle. Unframed. Currently on a mat, ...

Forest Oasis, Mid-Century Pool Under Redwood Trees Landscape Beautiful mid-century redwood forest scene by Vladimir Shkurkin (1900-1990), c.1950. This st...

This piece is an A.R. turned pitcher created by Pablo Picasso in 1955. It is made with white earthenware clay, decoration in engobes in red and black with glaze inside. It bears the ...

Created in 1953, ceramic Picador A.R. 200 is a round plate of white earthenware clay with oxidized paraffin decoration (brown, green, white) in a stanniferous enamel bath...

Signed lower right 'Spazzali' for Luciano Spazzali (Italian, 1911-1997) and dated 1958. A complex and lyrical equestrian work by this notable Italian Modernist and exponent of Magi...

Painterly scene of boats and boats being built at the docks in old Pacific Grove, California by an unknown artist (American, 20th Century). Signed"WHM" lower left. Presented in a fau...

This late 1950s portrait photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features Sicilian-born American gangster Charles 'Lucky' Luciano (1897 - 1962) walking with friends...

Mid Century River Birches Landscape Watercolor Gorgeous vibrant mid century watercolor on paper painting of river birch trees by artist Eva Collins Marks (American, 20th century),19...

This mid-1950s portrait photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features a woman sunbatheing, wearing a novelty straw sun hat with built-in sunglasses, Venice. Th...

This mid-1950s portrait photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features guests at the La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club, La Jolla, San Diego. This is an estate stamp...

Signed lower right, 'A. Minewski' for Alexander Minewski (American, 1917-1979) and painted circa 1950. Born in Detroit, Alexander Minewski left home at the age of 14 to work in the circus. He subsequently worked as a sign painter and a logger. Minewski first studied at the Society of Arts and Crafts in Detroit (1936-1939) and received scholarships that allowed him to attend the Art Students League in New York City (1939-1942). There, he studied under artists including Jean Charlot, Ernest Fiene, George Grosz and Vaclav Vytlacil. During World War II, Minewski joined the army and fought as a combat engineer. Wounded in Burma while fighting with Merrill's Marauders, he spent two years there recovering from his wounds. Following his time in Burma, Minewski studied for two years on the G.I. Bill in Paris at the Académie de la Grande Chaumiere (1950-1952) and, independently, with Hans Hofmann in New York City (1952-1953). Hofmann was influential on his style and his work shifted away from a moody realism towards a fuller expressionism. In 1954, Minewski began spending his summers at the artist’s colony in Monhegan Island, Maine. While there, he was able to work and collaborate with other artists and friends such as Ted Davis...

Basket Weaver with his Baskets for the Market 1950s figurative oil Expressive and detail portrait of a weaver and his baskets, heading to market by California impressionist nna Oley...

Signed lower right 'Di Gesu' for Victor di Gesu (American, 1914-1988) and painted circa 1958. A substantial oil a young woman, (possibly Victor's wife, the artist, Janet Ament), sho...

Signed lower left, 'Stoltenberg' for Donald Hugo Stoltenberg (American, 1927-2016) and dated 1957. Titled, verso on original artist's label, 'West Side, New York'. Provenance: Mr. & ...

Mid century figurative of romantic adventures by Duleich (American, 20th Century). Presented in a wooden frame. Signed "Duleich '59" lower left. Image size, 30.25"H x 24"W. Framed si...

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...

Signed lower right, 'Alex Gonzales' (American, 1927-2020) and dated, '11/58'. A delicate and enigmatic, mid-century, painted collage showing a processio...

Wonderful mid century portrait of Carmel artist Doris Estelle Rohr by listed California artist Abel George (Buck) Warshawsky (American, 1883-1962). Signed "A.G. Warshawsky Dec. 22 52...

Jirayr Zorthian(1911-2004), went through two Turkish massacres before age eight. He left Turkey at age nine with his family and spent a year in Padua, Italy, waiting for his visa to open to the United States. This period was very important in his life because his father took him to many cities in Europe and exposed him to great works of art. Zorthian arrived in the United States at the age of eleven and settled with his family in New Haven, Connecticut. He obtained his formal education there, after graduating from Yale in 1932, the Winchester Fellowship granted him a year and a half at the American Academy in Rome with travel and study throughout Europe. His art career branched into various directions on his return to the United States. As a mural painter his reputation was established. He has forty two (42) murals throughout the United States. Zorthian worked and taught painting at some of the finest art academiJirayr Zorthian(1911-2004), went through two Turkish massacres before age eight. He left Turkey at age nine with his family and spent a year in Padua, Italy, waiting for his visa to open to the United States. This period was very important in his life because his father took him to many cities in Europe and exposed him to great works of art. Zorthian arrived in the United States at the age of eleven and settled with his family in New Haven, Connecticut. He obtained his formal education there, after graduating from Yale in 1932, the Winchester Fellowship granted him a year and a half at the American Academy in Rome with travel and study throughout Europe. His art career branched into various directions on his return to the United States. As a mural painter his reputation was established. He has forty two (42) murals throughout the United States. Zorthian worked and taught painting at some of the finest art academies on the west coast including both the Chouinard Art Institute and the Otis Art Institute. es on the west coast including both the Chouinard Art Institute and the Otis Art Institute. The Gathering...

Vibrant and detailed depiction of three bird of paradise flowers by unknown artist "Albright" (20th Century). Three flowers are shown with seve...

This piece is an A.R. turned pitcher created by Pablo Picasso in 1953. It is made with white earthenware clay, decoration in engobes and oxides under partial brushed glaze with white...

Signed lower right, 'Caswell' for Helen Rayburn Caswell (American, 1923-2018) and painted circa 1955. A substantial, mid-century figural oil by this listed California woman artist who showed her talent at an early age. In Saratoga, Caswell began a successful career as an artist and portrait painter, displaying in galleries in Carmel and teaching artist workshops. In addition to her work as a fine artist and portrait painter, Helen wrote and illustrated over 30 books for children and adults. In 1981, Helen moved to Occidental in Sonoma County where, in addition to continuing to paint and teach, she designed stained glass windows for the Sebastopol United Methodist Church. She was also commissioned to paint numerous murals including at St. Ignatius Church in San Francisco and for the Elizabeth Seton Center in Menlo Park.

Partially signed, lower left, 'Georgetti' for Wedo Georgetti (American, 1911-2005) and painted circa 1955. Accompanied by an Certificate of Authenticity. A substantial, mid-century Post-Impressionist oil cityscape showing a view of Prague Castle, the hereditary seat of King Wenceslas and the Kings of Bohemia. Born in Italy, this California Post-Impressionist came to the United States at the age of one. Georgetti first worked as a merchant seaman to support his art studies and traveled all over the world accumulating sketches, many of which he later worked up into paintings. He made frequent visits to France, where he was influenced by the Post-Impressionists and, particularly, by the Nabis. An innovative theorist, Georgetti was the originator of the style known as California Fauvism. He exhibited widely and with success, both at exhibitions and at one-man shows (Oakland Art Gallery, 1942-44; Society of American Graphic Artists, NYC, 1944; Maxwell Galleries, 1940’s; de Young...

Gorgeous landscape of artist's interpretation of Santa Cruz and what appears to be Holy Cross Roman Catholic church during late 19th Century by Esther Roebuck (American 1902-1970), p...

Presenting an original oil on panel by American artist Robert McIntosh, c.1958. "Cubist Nude in White", is an original oil and collage on panel, signed,c.1958, a painting directly from the personal collection of the artist...

Signer upper right, 'Craemer' for Kurt Craemer (German, 1912-1961) and dated 1954. Born in Saarbrucken, Craemer first attended the Academy of Cologne where he worked under Friedrich Ahlers-Hesterman in 1928. He then traveled to Paris with his teacher, where he was introduced to the work of Henri Matisse. From 1930-33, Craemer lived in Düsseldorf where he continued his studies at the Art Academy under Paul Klee. With the Nazi's ascent to power late that year, Craemer moved to Italy and lived there at the Art colony in Ischia until the end of the war when he moved to Positano. Throughout the 1950's, Kurt Craemer continued to live in Italy exhibited with success internationally, including at the Venice Biennale...

Provenance: Marlborough Gallery David McKee, Inc. Manny Silverman Gallery Private collection, Los Angeles

Wonderful mid century vertical still life with folk-art feel and vibrant colors by T. Tinney (American, 20th Century) 1957. Signed "T. Tinney" and dated "1957" lower right. Unframed...

Anne Estell Rice (1877-1959, American) Still Life With Bottles Oil Paint on Masonite Signed and dated 1958 Unframed 12" x 21.5"

Mid-century self-portrait by California artist Myrtle Cureton (American, 1909-2000). Signed "Myrtle Cureton" lower left. Artist's Santa Cruz Art League ...

Pigs on a Trolley - Vintage Picture Book Two-Page Spread Illustration A two-page spread in India ink pen and watercolor by Irene Pattinson (Ameri...

This piece is a unique, original gouache on paper by Erte, also known as Romain de Tirtoff. Erte was a vastly diverse artist who excelled in an array of fields including fashion, jew...

Fishing Village - Massachusetts Watercolor on Paper Cloudy day on the Massachusetts Coast by Richard Clark Hare (American, 1906-1959). Richard Clarke Hare was a painter best known f...

Wonderfully vivid mid century impressionist landscape of stone barn with red roof circa 1950s, by an unknown artist. The quant old barn is nestled beneath grassy foothills in this pa...

1969: French singer, Francoise Hardy sitting on a motorbike. (Photo by Reg Lancaster/Express/Getty Images) As an authorized Getty Images Gallery partner, we offer premium quality pr...

Wonderful mid century autumnal landscape of a miner's shack on Tuolumne River in Yosemite by N.C McNickle (American, 20th Century), circa 1950. Impasto adds extra texture and depth S...

Signed lower right, 'Buk' for Eduard Buk Ulreich (American, 1889-1966); additionally titled verso 'Consort' and dated 1954 with inscription, 'by the one and only buk, made for Ruth'....

Gorgeous vibrant still life of roses, sweet peas, and calla lilies by Helen Mae Enoch Gleiforst (American, 1903-1997). Signed "Gleiforst" lower left. Displayed in a giltwood frame. I...

Stamped, verso, with estate stamp for Victor Di Gesu (American, 1914-1988) and created circa 1950. A bold figural study of a nude in contrapposto, shown posing with drapery and cont...

Di Gesu Estate Stamp verso for Victor di Gesu (American, 1914-1988) and created circa 1955. An elegant, freehand sketch of a young woman with a bob cut, shown naked and reclining on...

Signed, lower left, with monogram, 'E. A.', for Edna Wright Andrade (American, 1917-2008) and dated 1954. Additionally signed, verso. A luminous, mid-ce...

Wonderful mid century oil painting of a lone fisherman on the levee at Coyote Point in San Mateo, California by Ruth Garber Hulstede (American, 1892-1981). Signed "R. Hulstede '58" l...

Painted circa 1955 by Victor Di Gesu (American, 1914-1988) and stamped verso with Victor Di Gesu estate stamp. Winner of the Prix Othon Friesz, Victor di Gesu first attended the Lo...

Portrait of Boy and Guitar Original oil by Angeli - Italy circa 1960 Classical portrait of a young boy ad his guitar by Angeli, an unknown Italian painter (Italy, 20th Century). Roc...

Beautiful mid century still life of a copper teapot and fruit by listed California artist Helen Gleiforst (American, 1903-1997), circa 1950's. The artist...