Mid-Century Modern 'Through the Tunnel' Vintage Original Figurative Portrait Oil Painting, Framed

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Description

THROUGH THE TUNNEL
Size: 22.4 x 26.4 inches (including frame)
Oil on board

A vibrant and compelling mid-century modernist painting … Read more THROUGH THE TUNNEL
Size: 22.4 x 26.4 inches (including frame)
Oil on board

A vibrant and compelling mid-century modernist painting that immerses the viewer in the perspective of a train driver at work, executed in oil onto board.

Rendered in bold, confident brushstrokes, this composition captures the dense array of gauges, levers, and dials that surround the central figure – an train driver in a cobalt-blue uniform – who gazes ahead toward a set of diverging tracks leading into a shadowy tunnel.

The style is distinctly modernist, echoing the industrial fascination of the mid-20th century. The artist has used a semi-abstract approach, reducing forms into rhythmic blocks of colour and simplified shapes that emphasise geometry over realism. Rich earthy browns and blacks contrast sharply with vivid blues, reds, and whites, bringing energy and movement to the interior space.

The brushwork is vigorous and expressive, lending texture and dynamism to both the machinery and the tunnel’s receding perspective. This painting celebrates the machinery of modern life while subtly meditating on the solitude and focus of the individual amidst the mechanical world.

This oil on board is housed in a complementary gilt frame with and inner linen border. The painting is in excellent vintage condition, and the frame has some marks on its linen border as shown but is in good vintage condition otherwise.

Please note all of the artworks we sell are vintage and unless otherwise stated, their condition is typical for their age. This can sometimes include slight changes in colour, yellowing to the varnish, and minor bumps and bruises. We have tried to include as many close-up photos as possible. Should you need more photos or wish to ask us more questions regarding an item's condition, feel free to contact us, we are always happy to help. See less