Larry Rivers "Fred and Ginger", 1999 – Signed Hand-Colored Pop Art Mixed Media

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A wonderfully exuberant and romantic work by celebrated American Pop artist Larry Rivers (1923–2002), "Fred and Ginger "depicts Hollywood's legendary … Read more A wonderfully exuberant and romantic work by celebrated American Pop artist Larry Rivers (1923–2002), "Fred and Ginger "depicts Hollywood's legendary dancing duo, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, locked in a passionate embrace. Executed in 1999, this striking mixed-media lithographic construction captures the glamour, theatricality, and unmistakable chemistry of two of the most beloved performers in American cinematic history.

What makes this work especially interesting is its unusual construction. Rather than producing a conventional flat lithograph, Rivers mounted the composition on sculpted foamcore, incorporating hand coloring to create a work with a distinctive physical presence.

One of the most influential figures in postwar American art, Larry Rivers helped bridge the gap between Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art. His work frequently appropriated imagery from popular culture, advertising, historical painting, and photography, transforming familiar subjects through an irreverent and highly personal artistic sensibility. A former jazz saxophonist, Rivers possessed an instinctive understanding of rhythm and improvisation, qualities that frequently emerge in his lively compositions. His choice of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers seems particularly appropriate for an artist whose work so often celebrates movement, performance, and American popular culture.

This example is numbered 27 from an edition of 53 and is signed, numbered, and dated by the artist in ink at the lower right. Its generous scale, vibrant coloring, unusual sculptural construction, and instantly recognizable subject make it an engaging example of Rivers's late-career work.

Larry Rivers (1923–2002)
Fred and Ginger, 1999
Medium: Lithograph construction in colors mounted on sculpted foamcore with hand coloring
Edition: 27 of 53 Signature: Signed, numbered, and dated in ink, lower right
Dimensions: 34 1/2 × 29 3/4 inches (87.6 × 75.6 cm), sheet, c. 40" x 35" framed. See less