"Intermission" Cocktail Party Lithograph signed by Dave Fox

About the Item

This lithograph by Dave Fox from 1991 features the artist's signature, lithograph number (1/70), and title "Intermission". Dave Fox's intention in the artwork is evident. It employs a subtler form of satire. The composition depicts an ordinary society event, infused with a pervasive sense of tedium among its participants, where nothing extraordinary unfolds. In the backdrop, a bar and its bartender serve as the setting, while in the foreground, two women engage in conversation, accompanied by a man holding a glass. He appears either poised to interject by social conditioning or already teetering on the precipice of profound ennui, displaying visible disinterest in the superficiality of their dialogue. The artist's meticulous attention to detail is particularly evident in the precise rendering of clothing, but their true mastery lies in portraying the women's eyes and lips, establishing the prevailing mood of the composition: a boredom beyond reality. Adding to the artistic finesse, the lithograph employs a creative use of light, with a left window serving as the primary light source. This illumination skillfully highlights the three characters in the foreground, while the figures in the background subtly blend into a darker environment. The carefully chosen shades of soft pastel pink and gray lend an elegant touch to the ensemble, enhancing the overall impact of the artwork. The artwork sits in a simple black woodframe. Dave Fox was born in Vienna, Austria in 1920, where he lived until shortly after the annexation of Austria in late 1938. Dave escaped via the German-Belgium border, seeking refuge in Belgium. From there he came to the United States in December 1939 and settled in Los Angeles. Dave was inducted into and served with the U.S. Army in the Philippines and Japan. Returning to the US, Dave studied at some of the first art schools in Los Angeles. He studied with artists, such as Rico Lebrun, Frances de Erderly, and Emil Bistrim at the Bistrim School of Fine Art. At the Jepson Art Institute, Guy Maccoy, a noted pioneer in the art of serigraphy introduced Dave to printmaking. After completing his studies, Dave was employed by an electronics firm as an artist and graphic designer. Dave went on to earn his BFA, MA, and MFA in drawing and painting with a special emphasis in printmaking from California State University Fullerton. Dave’s work included printmaking, painting, drawing, ceramics, and computer graphics. Dave Fox was an observer of life and translated all that he saw, heard, or experienced into his artwork. Growing up in Austria, the countryside was his playground. From early on Dave belonged to hiking groups and honed his observation skills, which he transferred to his new life in Los Angeles. In Los Angeles, Dave found new playgrounds – the LA Farmers Market, Melrose Ave., and the streets of Los Angeles at a time of growth and change. It was through his association with Jewish Federation in Los Angeles that he met his wife, Senta. Shortly after their marriage, they moved to Orange County, where they raised their two children. Dave divided his artwork equally between landscapes and people. He perfected his skills at drawing the human form and giving it personality and life. Throughout his long career, he always returned to themes that reflected his Jewish upbringing. His sketchpad, always with him, became his vehicle for capturing the world he saw. His interest in Jewish subjects was reflected in the people walking on Melrose Avenue; in the people enjoying Farmer’s Market in LA; in the chestnut vendor and the fish seller; in the Shabbat series, and in the abstract series reflecting a return to Jerusalem. Finally, when Dave turned his attention to ceramics he created a series of Jewish ceremonial objects – seder plates, Kiddush cups, and Havdalah sets. Into his nineties, Dave still painted every day and continued to be a keen observer of the world around him.

Dimensions:

Height: 20.25 in (51.44 cm)Width: 18.25 in (46.36 cm)Depth: 0.88 in (2.24 cm)

Style:

American Classical (In the Style Of)

Materials and Techniques:

Paper

Place of Origin:

United States

Period:

1990-1999

Date of Manufacture:

1991