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Yellow and Blue Mid-century Portrait of a Young Woman, 1960s

$520
£392.96
€460.04
CA$726.17
A$817
CHF 432.88
MX$10,088.97
NOK 5,306.66
SEK 5,098.97
DKK 3,431.61
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About the Item

A lovely portrait of an adolescent woman, by an unknown but highly skilled artist. This portrait captures the sensitivity, vulnerability and defiance of young womanhood. It references Vermeer's Girl with Pearl Earring and the classical portraiture style - not only in the subject matter but in the three-quarter pose, natural light from one side, neutral ground, leading the viewer to the eyes and even referencing the pale straw and blue of Vermeer's portrait. This wonderful oil on board has the feel of a spontaneous sketch. Perhaps this young woman was a member of the artist's family, or simply a young person invited to sit. Either way, the portrait is worth spending time speculating over, as it tells a whole story in itself. There's a touch of hauteur, even disdain, in this young woman's uplifted chin and unsmiling lips. She is, as every young woman has experienced, feeling some discomfort at being made the object of another's gaze. In the process, she defies objectification by containing herself, unsmiling and doubtful. We see not only her determination and character but also her vulnerability. Quite aside from the wonderful subject, this painting works beautifully as a decorative piece. Honeyed tones in the hair offset the deep blue eyes. The artist has skillfully modeled the face so that the eyes are the focus of our attention. The hair and areas surrounding the face have been sketched to form a rough texture in the white to off-white ground. There are touches of green in the shading and light blue tones in the clothing. The whole has been beautifully composed, with the lightest of touches. It really captures a fleeting moment of youth. This has all been beautifully highlighted by careful colour matching in the frame. The original frame was in good overall condition and of fine quality but the surface was marked, stained and in poor shape. We have cleaned, sanded and hand painted the frame, choosing a colour in keeping with the period and tone of the portrait. It pops beautifully and makes this portrait a highlight piece that can feature in a gallery hang or make a statement on it's own. Just lovely! The frame and board have been carefully inspected but no signature or mark found. The original backing board and nails have been re-used, but re-taped with new kraft paper tape.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 21.07 in (53.5 cm)Width: 15.16 in (38.5 cm)Depth: 1.38 in (3.5 cm)
  • Style:
    Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
    Masonite,Paint,Wood,Hand-Painted
  • Place of Origin:
    Australia
  • Period:
    1960-1969
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1960
  • Condition:
    Refinished. Wear consistent with age and use. The portrait has been cleaned and a high quality artist's varnish applied to protect the oil paint and discourage dust. The original frame has been cleaned, sanded and repainted in a Dulux interior satin finish paint.
  • Seller Location:
    Melbourne, AU
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU2656344876242

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