Grey Nude with White Fruit' by Doris Klein, 1971, Roko Gallery, NY, NY

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Description

“Grey Nude with Apples and Flowers” by Doris Klein, Signed 1971—Pop-Influenced Hard-Edge Figurative Painting

Description:
A visually commanding oil painting … Read more “Grey Nude with Apples and Flowers” by Doris Klein, Signed 1971—Pop-Influenced Hard-Edge Figurative Painting

Description:
A visually commanding oil painting by Doris Klein, dated 1971 and signed lower left, exemplifies a convergence of Pop Art aesthetics with hard-edge figuration and a subtle undercurrent of emotional realism. The composition features a solitary nude figure viewed from behind, rendered in smooth, matte gray tones, and set against a sharply segmented color field. The background consists of bold, juxtaposed planes of violet, black, yellow, orange, and hot pink—colors that evoke both domestic familiarity and psychological tension.

The left third of the composition includes a table adorned with a stylized green vase of powder-blue flowers and sliced white apples, functioning as both a still life and a symbolic counterbalance to the nude figure. These elements, treated with minimal shading and crisp outlines, suggest motifs of fertility, introspection, and feminine interiority—reminiscent of the quiet intensity found in the works of Tom Wesselmann or early David Hockney.

The figure's turned posture and lack of facial features introduce a subtle anonymity, while her solid presence and poised stance assert a quiet confidence. The canvas incorporates areas of deliberate impasto and surface texturing, particularly in the black and violet zones, breaking the otherwise flat geometry with tactile nuance.

This work was exhibited at Roko Gallery, 90 East 10th Street, New York City, as evidenced by the original ink stamp on the stretcher verso. Roko Gallery was an influential venue in the 1960s–1980s East Village art scene, known for promoting emerging and experimental figurative artists.

Medium:
Oil on canvas with random, intentionally textured surfaces

Signature:
Signed and dated lower left: Doris Klein ’71

Provenance:
Roko Gallery, New York, NY (stamped on verso)

Dimensions:
Canvas: 40” H x 30” W
Framed: 40.75” H x 30.75” W x 2” D

Condition:
Very good vintage condition. Surface texture and impasto areas appear artist-intended. Minor signs of craquelure and handling consistent with age and medium. See less