Taffy, 1968; Acrylic on canvas; Titled, signed, and dated "Title Taffy Gene Davis 1968" verso; Size - 89 x 8", Frame 89 1/2 x 8 1/2"; Framed with a wood and metal frame; Provenance and Price are Available On Request
"My whole approach is intuitive. Sometimes I simply use the color I have
the most of and worry about getting out of trouble later. Perhaps I'm
like the jazz musician who can't read music but plays by ear. I paint by
eye." - Gene Davis
Gene Davis (1920-1985) was an American Color Field painter known for his
paintings of vertical strips of color. His first exhibition of drawings
and first exhibition of paintings occurred in 1952 and 53 respectively.
However, it was not until a decade later than he participated in the
"Washington Color Painters" exhibit at the Washington Gallery of Modern
Art in Washington DC that launched the recognition of the Washington
Color School as a regional art movement. Davis was a central figure of
that movement and was most known for his acrylic paintings of colored
vertical stripes, which he began to paint in 1958.
In
1972, Davis created "Franklin's Footpath," which was at the time the
world's largest artwork. It was accomplished by painting colored
vertical stripes on the street in front of the Philadelphia Museum of
Art. He also painted "Niagara" in 1979, the world's largest painting
(43,680 square feet) in a parking lot in Lewiston, NY. Davis also
painted (at the other extreme) his "micro-paintings," that were as small
as 3/8 on an inch wide.
In
1966, Gene Davis began teaching at the Corcoran School of Art, becoming
a permanent member of the faculty. His works are included in many
public and private collections as well as the Corcoran Gallery of Art,
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Phillips Collection in Washington, DC,
Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, MN, and the Smithsonian American Art
Museum; just to name a few.
Close up of the title, Gene Davis signature, and date verso.
Close up of the J L Hudson Gallery label verso.
Close up detail of "Taffy," 1968 by Gene Davis
Original receipt from Sotheby's Parke-Bernet for "Taffy," 1968 by Gene Davis
Davis's
paintings tend to repeat particular colors in order to create a sense
of rhythm and repetition with variations. Davis has said, "I never plan my color more than five stripes ahead and often change my mind before I reach the third stripe." The titles of his paintings were inspired by the whimsy of Paul Klee and were determined after the paintings were complete; and some of Davis's more famous paintings titles are derived from sweet treats such as "Licorice Stick," "Lemon Ice," "Popsicle," "Raspberry Icicle," and "Apricot Ripple." "Taffy," 1968
is a wonderful example of Davis at the height of his skill and the work is composed of 64 colored strips. Colors of varying light values are
repeated across the canvas forcing the eye to dance about looking for
ebbs and flows of interactions. Often the stripes are arranged as pairs or
discreet groupings of alternating colors to keep the eye moving.
Adjacent colors push and pull lines of color both away and towards the viewer
in a seemingly ever ending orchestration. The viewer's eyes are
being expertly manipulated by Davis in a figure to ground interaction, ever
seeking a way to resolve the composition. An absolutely fantastic painting that is perfect for any modern
art collection!
Provenance:
Fishback Gallery, New York
J. L. Hudson Gallery Detroit
Sotheby's Parke-Bernet, Los Angeles, Contemporary Paintings, 22 January 1973, Lot 13
Private Collection
LA Modern, 20th Century Art, 20 June 2024, Lot 122
Untitled Art Gallery, Durham, NC
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