Field of Flowers | Acrylic on Canvas | Post-Impressionist | Edward A. Davidson | 1977

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Description

Edward A. Davidson (1909 - 1987), Field of Flowers, 1977, Acrylic on Canvas, 3" x 5".

This is a vibrant … Read more Edward A. Davidson (1909 - 1987), Field of Flowers, 1977, Acrylic on Canvas, 3" x 5".

This is a vibrant example of miniature landscape painting, executed in a style that leans toward Impressionism or Pointillism. The piece utilizes a high horizon line, which allows the "flower field" to occupy the majority of the visual space, drawing the viewer into the garden. The dark, vertical forms at the top provide a strong contrast to the bright foreground, giving the small canvas a surprising amount of depth.

The artist used a "stippling" or "dabbing" technique to build texture, which is particularly effective at this small scale. By applying small points of pure color, reds, yellows, and oranges, next to one another, the artist creates the optical illusion of a shimmering field of flowers without needing fine detail. The canvas has a visible, somewhat coarse weave. On a miniature of this size, the texture of the fabric becomes a part of the aesthetic, adding a tactile quality to the landscape.

The painting is signed on both the primary (canvas) and secondary (stretcher) support. There is also a note on the stretcher reading "Started & Finished Dec 4, 1977 - 2 Hours" confirming that this was painted in an alla prima (at once) session. The stretcher bars are hand-joined and have a nice aged patina.

Edward A. Davidson did spot and larger illustrations and small paintings for Gourmet, Harper's, and other magazines in the 1950s and 1960s. He also sold hundreds of his drawings and paintings from a small shop/gallery on East 4th Street in Greenwich Village, through the gallery of Julius Carlebach, a few other Manhattan galleries and dealers and through many art and antique shows. See less