1980s Folk Art Double-Sided Painting on Cardboard, Signed Simon

Details

Description

… A rare double-sided original by the enigmatic folk artist Simon — two complete, fully realized works inhabiting a single … Read more … A rare double-sided original by the enigmatic folk artist Simon — two complete, fully realized works inhabiting a single piece of painted cardboard. One side presents a haunting anthropomorphic figure: an elongated, watchful being with wildly scribbled hair, a lone expressive eye, and narrow triangular nose, dressed in olive drab overalls against a moody steel-blue-gray ground. A bright swipe of orange anchors the bottom edge like a horizon line of fire, and a tiny scurrying insect lurks in the lower corner — a signature Simon flourish suggesting the figure is not alone in his world.
Flip the work and you enter a completely different emotional register: a bold crimson heart rendered in a single gestural line on sky blue, its arrow plunging downward with raw urgency, accompanied by a small pill or bandage form — a quietly poignant meditation on love and vulnerability. Signed and dated
Why This Piece Stands Out
Double-sided works by Simon are uncommon — this is essentially two paintings for the price of one, each telling its own story. The juxtaposition is striking: the stoic, solitary figure on one face and the visceral, emotionally charged heart on the other suggest an artist working through the full spectrum of inner life. The cardboard ground, orange horizon line, and instinctive linework are hallmarks of Simon's self-taught visual language, placing this firmly within the Outsider and Folk Art tradition.
Whether displayed with the figure forward or the heart showing, this piece commands attention and invites conversation. A meaningful addition to any collection of contemporary self-taught art. See less