Maurice Pasternak Art

"Poulaho, King of the Friendly Islands, Drinking Kava" is an engraving created by William Sharp (1749-1824), from a drawing by John Webber (1752-1793), who was the artist on Captain James Cook's 3rd and final voyage of discovery. It was published in the atlas of "A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean Undertaken by the Command of His Majesty, for Making Discoveries in the Northern Hemisphere", the official British Admirality sanctioned journal published upon completion of the voyage in London in 1784 by Strahan & Cadell. Captain Cook visited Tonga on his 3rd voyage, which he named The Friendly Islands because of the warm welcome he and his crew received, unlike some of the other more hostile Pacific islands. The engraving depicts Cook and his men observed a kava ceremony at the village of Mu’a on Tongatapu. King Paulaho sits in the centre foreground, his back to the spectator with a man kneeling before him. The ceremonial mat depicted behind Paulaho indicates that nobody was allowed to sit behind him. The figure in the centre holds a single cup, referring to the Tongan custom of offering the cup to the king first. Kava is native to the islands of the South Pacific and was first described for English readers in 1768 by Captain James Cook. The kava root has been used for centuries as a central feature of ceremonies and celebrations because it was able to bring about a calming and pleasant social atmosphere. The root was crushed and processed into coconut milk to become the focal ceremonial beverage, simply referred to as kava. This engraving is presented in a Koa wood frame and a white mat. Koa wood is legendary in Hawaii. There are occasional faint spots, but the print is otherwise in very good condition. This amazing Koa wood is native to Hawaii and it is known for the deep rich colors and varied grain pattern. Koa has an honored heritage in Hawaii and is highly revered and sacred. The word “koa” means “warrior” in Hawaiian. The warriors of King Kamehameha the Great, created canoes and weapons from a wood plentiful on the Big Island of Hawaii. This wood became synonymous with the warriors themselves, and it became known as koa. There are three other engravings listed from the official journal of Captain Cook's 3rd voyage available that are presented in identical Koa wood frames and mats (LU117324682422, LU117324684052, LU117324684032). They would make a wonderful grouping for a display of 2, 3 or 4 prints. A discount is available for a grouping depending on the number of items included. Captain Cook is remembered as one of the greatest explorers and navigators in history. His explorations included Australia, New Zealand and islands of the South Pacific and the northwest coast of North America. Hawaii was discovered by Captain Cook during this voyage. Hawaii was originally called The Sandwich Islands in honor of The Earl of Sandwich...

Contemporary colorful figurative surrealistic print on paper by Polish artist Rafal Olbinski. This print shows woman with dress shaped like an umbrella from under which it rains. The...

Leonora Carrington (British-Mexican 1917 - 2011) was a painter, writer, and key figure in Surrealism whose work explored the sacred, the mystical, and the magical in everyday life. B...

Summer House is a limited edition 5-layer silkscreen print that blends contemporary figuration with playful surrealism. Printed on luxurious Fabriano Rosaspina Ivory paper (104lbs), ...

Lithograph in colors on paper. Hand signed and numbered by the artist. AP edition. Sheet size 23.5 x 11.25 inches. Image size approx 19.5 x 9.75 inches. Artwork is in excellen...

The Poker Game by Israel Rubinstein, Israeli (1944) Date: 1980 Screenprint, signed and numbered in pencil Edition of 250 Image Size: 27 x 38 inches S...

Artist: Rene Magritte (after) Title: La Corde Sensible Medium: Lithograph, Signed in Pencil by Georgette Magritte Image Size: 16.5 x 21 inches Sheet Size: 21 ...

Medium: Mezzotint Year: 2023 Edition: 50 Image Size: 11.75 x 17.5 inches Pedestrians sheltering from the rain under umbrellas in an urban downtown setting, Art Werger’s prints show...

This artwork titled "Listen" 1998 is an original color lithograph on paper by noted American artist David Hollowell, b.1951. It is hand signed and num...

Contemporary artist Peter Milton created this etching and engraving entitled "Interiors VI: Soundings" in 1989. The printed image size is 29 7/8 x 23 13/16 and paper size is 36 x 29 inches. This impression is signed, dated, and titled in pencil and inscribed “93/175” – the 93 impression of 175. “I do love to draw. I feel that I am being granted membership in the Brotherhood of Merlin, conjuring forth some apparition. As a drawing develops, I sense a vague presence coming more and more into focus, something in a white fog emerging and becoming increasingly palpable.” – P. Milton, “The primacy of touch. The Drawings of Peter Milton” “Working in layers, Milton begins with drawings based on people and places, with nods to Western art history and culture. He is a master of the appropriated image, a term that may conjure Andy Warhol and his Pop Art comrades. But Milton steps further back in history, avoiding the Pop sense of cool advertising and popular culture references. Instead, a broader cultural past is tapped through historical photographs of key players, architecture, and locales, which he reinvents by hand. He adds content drawn from his life as an avid reader – always with multiple possible interpretations – thus incorporating deeper meaning in his cinematic worlds. Elements of Greek mythology, classical music, art history, and history coalesce in his images, which embrace the messiness, sorrow, and elation that is life. One is hard-pressed to imagine a more erudite, skilled, passionate, and cheeky soul." – T. L. Johnson and A. Shafer Peter Milton was born in Pennsylvania in 1930. He studied for two years at the Virginia Military Institute...

Colorful figurative drypoint print by Polish artist Czeslaw Tumielewicz. Subject for this artwork comes from Miguel de Cervantes' book. The print is signed, it comes from edition lim...

Contemporary colorful figurative surrealistic print on paper by Polish artist Rafal Olbinski. This print shows a woman sitting on chair with her feet on a Moon. There is parisian arc...