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"Nudes Suspended", Early, Surrealist Drawing w/ Male Nudes by John B. Lear

$5,200
£3,994.97
€4,590.17
CA$7,314.44
A$8,217.45
CHF 4,293.63
MX$100,297.82
NOK 54,516.56
SEK 51,315.86
DKK 34,253.57

About the Item

Early, important and finely drawn, this piece by John B. Lear depicts two fully nude male figures suspended among the branches of two trees, each figure demonstrating the care with which he captured the beauty, strength and character of the men he admired. Lear's earliest works are often in oil, but later he moved to watercolor, pencil and colored pencil. He retained a fascination with the male nude, though his depiction of the male figure changed over the years -- from long and lean bodies, as here, to stockier figures in later years. Lear liked to depict his figures in fantastic or exotic environments such as the circus, carnival, deserted beach, or Dali-esque setting. A contemporary of Paul Cadmus, and like him, highly focused on depicting the male figure in various settings and positions, Lear never gained fame beyond his circle of admirers in the Philadelphia area. However, Lear is having a moment now, and his works are increasingly sought after by collectors. The piece is pencil on warm yellow paper.
  • Creator:
    John B. Lear (Artist)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 10.88 in (27.64 cm)Width: 13.75 in (34.93 cm)Depth: 0.1 in (2.54 mm)
  • Style:
    Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    Circa 1960s
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use. Overall excellent, with some minor wrinkling in the upper third of the paper.
  • Seller Location:
    Philadelphia, PA
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU865145828772

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