1970s Original Expressionist Oil Painting "Holocaust" by Geraldine J. Vanderbeek – Large Signed Post-War Cityscape

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"Holocaust" Original Oil Painting by Geraldine J. Vanderbeek (1923–2009)

This large original oil painting is a dramatic and emotionally powerful … Read more "Holocaust" Original Oil Painting by Geraldine J. Vanderbeek (1923–2009)

This large original oil painting is a dramatic and emotionally powerful expressionist work depicting the aftermath of war. A lone figure stands on an elevated roadway overlooking a city reduced to ruins beneath a fiery crimson sky. The sweeping perspective, bold brushwork, and somber palette create a profound meditation on destruction, survival, and the resilience of the human spirit.

Painted in 1974, Holocaust is one of Geraldine J. Vanderbeek's most ambitious works from what was her most productive artistic period. Rather than illustrating a specific historical event, the painting invites viewers to reflect on the universal consequences of war and humanity's capacity to rebuild after unimaginable loss.

Geraldine "Gerry" Vanderbeek (1923–2009) lived in Rouses Point, New York, for more than fifty years. She studied under Ron Goyette, the well-known Kennebunkport, Maine, artist whose work has been displayed at the Bush family compound at Walker's Point. During the 1970s she produced many of her finest paintings, developing an expressive style distinguished by dramatic atmosphere, bold composition, and emotional depth.

The painting is signed G. Vanderbeek in the lower right corner. The original typed identification card bearing the title and artist's name remains attached to the reverse. The sturdy red-painted frame was handcrafted by the artist's husband and has remained with the painting since its creation.

Condition
Original oil on canvas
Signed lower right
Approximately 49" x 36.5"
Original handcrafted frame
Business card identifying the painting attached to the reverse
Paint surface in very good condition with attractive areas of impasto
Canvas is sound
Frame is solid with minor age-related shrinkage separations at several corners (see photographs)

This is a one-of-a-kind original painting—not a print or reproduction—and would make a striking addition to a home, office, gallery, library, or institutional collection. See less