Seated Ballerina, Watercolor and Gouache on Buff Paper, Signed Fried Pál, Framed

Details

Description

A loose, study-like sheet of a ballerina in a white tutu seated on the floor, seen from behind and slightly … Read more A loose, study-like sheet of a ballerina in a white tutu seated on the floor, seen from behind and slightly to the side, head bowed onto her raised arms, both pointe shoes showing. Watercolour and gouache over graphite with chalk or soft-pastel heightening on buff wove paper, the warm ground left largely bare: dry opaque white for the tutu, transparent washes for the flesh, visible graphite contours.

Signed FRIED Pál and attributed to Pál Fried (Hungarian-American, 1893-1976), the ballet-in-the-wings subject he returned to most. The signature is in drawn block capitals, while his documented works are signed in a cursive "Fried Pal", so it is offered as attributed, not authenticated.

Provenance: inscribed in ink at lower right with a dedication to the current owner's grandfather, and passed from him to the current owner in a single step. No gallery label or stamp on the back.

Undated, 20th century. Under glass with a grey/taupe mat in a narrow copper-gilt moulding. Framed 23.75" x 29"; sight approx. 18" x 21". See less