"Pompeii Forte," 1976-82 Drypoint, Etching, Sugar-lift Etching, Soft-ground Etching, and Aquatint by Helen Frankenthaler

Pompeii Forte, 1976-82; Drypoint, etching, sugar-lift etching, soft-ground etching, and aquatint in colors, on white CM Fabriano Classico paper; Signed Frankenthaler and dated '76-82' in pencil lower right and numbered 3/5 in pencil lower left; Published by Donn H. Steward, Halesite, NY (with their blindstamp); Catalogue Raisonne: Harrison 88; Size - Image: 12 1/4 x 22 1/2", Sheet 22 x 30 1/2"; Unframed.

To purchase this work or to visit the Art Gallery, CLICK HERE 

Helen Frankenthaler (1928-2011) was an American abstract expressionist painter who exhibited artwork for over six decades starting from the early 1950's until her passing in 2011. She was included in the 1964 Post-Painterly Abstraction exhibition curated by the famed art critic Clement Greenberg; and the body of work presented in the show would latter be known as Color Field Painting. Frankenthaler's work has been the subject of several retrospective exhibitions, including the important 1989 retrospective held at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. In 2011 she was awarded the National Medal of Arts.

The entire sheet of "Pompeii Forte"

Helen Frankenthaler is, without a question, one of the greatest artists of the twentieth century and is one of the very few female artists that would be included in such a list. She was married to the abstract expressionist artist Robert Motherwell, and had an intimate relationship with the famous art critic Clement Greenberg; so her connections within the art community run very deep. Frankenthaler was initially involved in the abstract expressionist movement but was looking for a path forward. Then, after a trip in October to Nova Scotia, had a breakthrough with a painting entitled "Mountains and Sea," 1952. The painting was abstract, and rather than painting the landscape seen on her trip, the work portrayed the experience itself. The composition was painted using a "soak stain" technique, whereby unprimed canvas duct is painted using oil paint that had been heavily thinned with turpentine. The effects of the technique reinforced the abstract nature of the landscape painting; and when the artists Kenneth Noland and Morris Louis saw it in her studio, their own painting styles and working methods were forever changed.

Close up of the Frankenthaler signature and the date.

During the 1960's, ULAE published original prints by Sam Francis, Helen Frankenthaler, Jasper Johns, Barnett Newman, Robert Rauschenberg, Larry Rivers, Cy Twombly, and many other major modern artists working at the time. In 1966 ULAE established an etching studio and on the printers hired was Donn Steward. Steward had studied etching at the University of Iowa and had trained as a lithography printer at Tamarind. He worked with Frankenthaler and printed the four aquatints made at ULAE.

The next two paragraphs are from "Frankenthaler: A Catalogue Raisonne, Prints 1961-1994" by Pegram Harrison:

"It was rare for Frankenthaler to work with an independent printer-publisher. However, because she and intaglio printer Donn Steward had collaborated together so successfully at ULAE, she continued the relationship after he left the studio in 1975 to establish his own workshop in Halesite, New York, on Long Island's North Shore. Before his death in 1985, they completed two projects, "Pompeii" and "Comet."

"Pompeii Forte" is a horizontal version of the 1976 "Pompeii." As the title implies, the orange (called "pompeii tint" on Steward's documentation sheet) as well as the red color are printed darker and thus with more strength than in the original version. When Frankenthaler reviewed the impressions in 1982, she allowed them to be released under the new title." 

Close up of the edition number.

This is an extremely rare work by Helen Frankenthaler in an edition of only five. The use of the word "Pompeii" in the title recalls the ancient Roman Italian city that was destroyed and buried under about 20 feet of volcanic ash and pumice, during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. The addition of the word "Forte" to the title demonstrates that there is an excellence in this work; a striking difference between an earlier vertical print entitled "Pompeii" created in 1976. For the horizontal version of "Pompeii Forte" the orange and the reds were printed darker and the work reads as a powerful and striking landscape.

#Frankenthaler #HelenFrankenthaler #printcollecting #noland #colorfield #artcollecting #etching #drypoint #aquatint #sugarliftetching #softgroundetching #DonnSteward #Pompeii #PompeiiForte #Vesuvius #MountVesuvius #ULAE

Chouette (Wood Owl) Vase by Pablo PIcasso, 1969

Chouette (Wood Owl) Vase, 1969; Partially glazed white earthenware vase painted in colors; Numbered 127/500; Inscribed 'EDITION PICASSO' and 'R147 MADOURA', with the 'MADOURA PLEIN FEU' and the 'EDITION PICASSO' pottery stamps on the underside; Size - Wood Owl Vase: 11 1/2" x 5 1/2" x 8 1/2"; Catalogue Raisonne: A.R. 605.

To purchase this work or to visit the Art Gallery, CLICK HERE

During the late 1940s, Pablo Picasso spent the summers on the Cote d'Azur in the South of France. There the artist visited Vallauris for the annual pottery exhibition in 1946. He was impressed by the quality of the Madoura works and was introduced to the owners, Suzanne and Georges Ramié. The Ramiés welcomed the famous artist into their workshop and gave him access to all the tools and resources the he needed in order to work in the medium of ceramics. In exchange, the Ramié family would produce and sell his limited edition ceramic works and this relationship spanned 25 years. It was also at the Madoura factory in 1953 that Picasso met Jacqueline Roque, who would become his second wife in 1961.

Side view of the Chouette (Wood Owl) Vase by Pablo Picasso

Back view of the Chouette (Wood Owl) Vase by Pablo Picasso

The Market for Picasso ceramics has been steadily rising as outlined by a recent article:
"Over the past 10 years, the market for Picasso ceramics has steadily grown, with seasoned collectors and new buyers alike vying for Picasso's editioned and unique ceramics at auction. This market is stable, with a steady high sell-through rate around 89% (87% in 2004, 89% in 2005, 87% in 2011, and 90% in 2012), and prices that are still lower than the rest of Picasso's work. The broad range of estimates and sales prices help make this market attractive to many collectors, but also explain the high average sales prices, which are skewed by a few exceptional pieces. In the previous two years, more than 60 exceptional ceramic works sold for over US$100,000: 34 in 2011 and 29 in 2012 (vs. six in 2004 and 2005)." - The Story Behind Picasso Ceramics, by Fanny Lakoubay and Conner Williams, 2013

Top view of the Chouette (Wood Owl) Vase by Pablo Picasso

Inscribed 'EDITION PICASSO' and 'R147 MADOURA', with the 'MADOURA PLEIN FEU' and the 'EDITION PICASSO' pottery stamps on the underside

Inscribed 'EDITION PICASSO' and 'R147 MADOURA', with the 'MADOURA PLEIN FEU' and the 'EDITION PICASSO' pottery stamps on the underside

The famed artist Georges Bloch stated of Picasso’s ceramic works:
 "…in approach, material and technique is as novel as it is interesting. Pottery, gleaming white discs with relief designs, monochrome or brightly coloured ovals, dishes and even jugs and vases here serve as bearers of compositions whose themes express the joyous, life-loving side of Picasso’s work. They are printed from blocks and stamps fashioned by the master over a period of more than twenty years in the Madoura pottery workshop in Vallauris.”

From Charles Mathes's site valuethoughts.com:
"In 1946 Picasso was staying near Antibes in the South of France and decorating the walls of what would become the Musée Picasso. A small owl with an injured claw that had been found in a corner ended up living with him and his lover, Francois Gilot. According to Gilot in her book “Life With Picasso” the owl was an ill-tempered creature who smelled awful and ate only mice. The owl would snort at Picasso and bite his fingers; Picasso would reply with a string of obscenities just to show the bird who was the most ill-tempered. Clearly bad manners were the way to Picasso’s heart for not only did he do a number of paintings, drawings and prints of owls, he created numerous ceramics."

Picasso would use the owl in paintings, prints, drawings, sculptures, and ceramics for the rest of his life. After Picasso's death, drawings were found that illustrate that the form used for the owl ceramics had been made during the time in 1946 when the wood owl first appeared in Picasso's atelier. This is a wonderful owl vase ceramic created in 1969, and the painting of the vessel is beautifully rendered in natural browns, black, and cream colors. The brushstrokes are consistent with free form feathers making up the wings, head, and feet. This is a spectacular piece of original Picasso artwork and a great addition for any art collection!

#Picasso #PabloPicasso #ceramic #Picassoceramic #Madoura #MadouraPottery #Vallauris #SuzanneRamie #GeorgesRamie #Ramie #JacquelineRoque #untitledartgallery #cubism #diaulos #diaulosplayer #faun #GeorgesBloch #Chouette #Owl #WoodOwl #FrancoisGilot

Diaulos Player and Faun, 1956 An Unglazed White Earthenware Plate by Pablo Picasso

Diaulos Player and Faun, 1956; Unglazed white earthenware plate; From the edition of 100; Incised 'R=B101', with the 'EMPREINTE ORIGINALE DE PICASSO' and 'MADOURA PLEIN FEU' pottery stamps on the verso; Size - Plate: Diameter 12 1/2", Frame 23 1/2 x 23 1/2"; Catalogue Raisonne: A.R. 342; Framed floated on a linen mat with a gold wood frame.

To purchase this work or to visit the Art Gallery, CLICK HERE

During the late 1940s, Pablo Picasso spent the summers on the Cote d'Azur in the South of France. There the artist visited Vallauris for the annual pottery exhibition in 1946. He was impressed by the quality of the Madoura works and was introduced to the owners, Suzanne and Georges Ramié. The Ramiés welcomed the famous artist into their workshop and gave him access to all the tools and resources the he needed in order to work in the medium of ceramics. In exchange, the Ramié family would produce and sell his limited edition ceramic works and this relationship spanned 25 years. It was also at the Madoura factory in 1953 that Picasso met Jacqueline Roque, who would become his second wife in 1961.

Framed "Diaulos Player and Faun" unglazed white earthenware plate.

The Market for Picasso ceramics has been steadily rising as outlined by a recent article:

"Over the past 10 years, the market for Picasso ceramics has steadily grown, with seasoned collectors and new buyers alike vying for Picasso's editioned and unique ceramics at auction. This market is stable, with a steady high sell-through rate around 89% (87% in 2004, 89% in 2005, 87% in 2011, and 90% in 2012), and prices that are still lower than the rest of Picasso's work. The broad range of estimates and sales prices help make this market attractive to many collectors, but also explain the high average sales prices, which are skewed by a few exceptional pieces. In the previous two years, more than 60 exceptional ceramic works sold for over US$100,000: 34 in 2011 and 29 in 2012 (vs. six in 2004 and 2005)." - The Story Behind Picasso Ceramics, by Fanny Lakoubay and Conner Williams, 2013

Close up of the 'EMPREINTE ORIGINALE DE PICASSO' and 'MADOURA PLEIN FEU' pottery stamps.

The famed artist Georges Bloch stated of Picasso’s ceramic works:

 "…in approach, material and technique is as novel as it is interesting. Pottery, gleaming white discs with relief designs, monochrome or brightly coloured ovals, dishes and even jugs and vases here serve as bearers of compositions whose themes express the joyous, life-loving side of Picasso’s work. They are printed from blocks and stamps fashioned by the master over a period of more than twenty years in the Madoura pottery workshop in Vallauris.”

"Diaulos Player and Faun" is a wonderful relief block composition of a double flute (diaulos) player with a faun dancing to the right. The entire ceramic is pale white and the relief allows for the forms to change and morph according to the time of day. This is due to the position of light raking the work, which casts shadows along the uneven surface. This fantastic effect allows the viewer to gradually engage with the piece on multiple levels.

#Picasso #PabloPicasso #ceramic #Picassoceramic #Madoura #MadouraPottery #Vallauris #SuzanneRamie #GeorgesRamie #Ramie #JacquelineRoque #untitledartgallery #cubism #diaulos #diaulosplayer #faun #GeorgesBloch

"Three Figures On A Trampoline," 1956 Ceramic Wall Plaque by Pablo Picasso

Three Figures On A Trampoline, 1956; Partially glazed white earthenware convex wall plaque, painted in ivory and brown, from the edition of 500, with the 'Madoura Plein Feu' and 'Empreinte Originale de Picasso' stamps verso; Size - Plaque 7 1/2 x 7 1/2"; Catalogue Raisonne: A.R. 375; Unframed.

To purchase this work or to visit the Art Gallery, CLICK HERE

During the late 1940s, Pablo Picasso spent the summers on the Cote d'Azur in the South of France. There the artist visited Vallauris for the annual pottery exhibition in 1946. He was impressed by the quality of the Madoura works and was introduced to the owners, Suzanne and Georges Ramié. The Ramiés welcomed the famous artist into their workshop and gave him access to all the tools and resources the he needed in order to work in the medium of ceramics. In exchange, the Ramié family would produce and sell his limited edition ceramic works and this relationship spanned 25 years. It was also at the Madoura factory in 1953 that Picasso met Jacqueline Roque, who would become his second wife in 1961.

Photograph of the back of the Picasso Wall Plaque.

The Market for Picasso ceramics has been steadily rising as outlined by a recent article:

"Over the past 10 years, the market for Picasso ceramics has steadily grown, with seasoned collectors and new buyers alike vying for Picasso's editioned and unique ceramics at auction. This market is stable, with a steady high sell-through rate around 89% (87% in 2004, 89% in 2005, 87% in 2011, and 90% in 2012), and prices that are still lower than the rest of Picasso's work. The broad range of estimates and sales prices help make this market attractive to many collectors, but also explain the high average sales prices, which are skewed by a few exceptional pieces. In the previous two years, more than 60 exceptional ceramic works sold for over US$100,000: 34 in 2011 and 29 in 2012 (vs. six in 2004 and 2005)." - The Story Behind Picasso Ceramics, by Fanny Lakoubay and Conner Williams, 2013

Close up of the 'Madoura Plein Feu' and 'Empreinte Originale de Picasso' stamps verso.

"Three figures on a trampoline," 1956 is a stunning composition of both movement and form. Pablo Picasso has transformed the art of the textured surface of this ceramic plate by depicting a series of three figures on a trampoline. Each is suspended in mid-air, each in varying positions, and each figure complementing the other in an equally balanced and innovative composition.

#Picasso #PabloPicasso #ceramic #Picassoceramic #Madoura #MadouraPottery #Vallauris #SuzanneRamie #GeorgesRamie #Ramie #JacquelineRoque #untitledartgallery #cubism #trampoline

"Eric Emerson (Chelsea Girls)," 1982 by Andy Warhol

Eric Emerson (Chelsea Girls), 1982; Screenprint in colors on Somerset Satin White Paper; Numbered H.C. 15/24 and signed Andy Warhol in pencil lower right; Published by Anthology Film Archives, New York; Printed by Porter-Wiener Studio, New York; Size - Sheet 30" x 22", Frame 39 1/2 x 34 3/4"; Catalog Raisonne: Feldman/Schellmann: II.287; Framed matted and floated on acid free mats, with a black wood exterior frame, and UV plexiglass.

To purchase this work or to visit the Art Gallery, CLICK HERE

Eric Emerson was an American musician, dancer, and actor; and was best known for his roles in films by pop artist Andy Warhol and as a member of the seminal glam punk group, The Magic Tramps. He was born on June 23, 1945 and grew up in New Jersey where he became trained as a classic ballet dancer. After seeing Emerson dancing at The Dom in April 1966, Andy Warhol asked Emerson to be in one of his underground films. Emerson made his film debut in the now famous 1967's Chelsea Girls, and soon became a Warhol Factory regular. Emerson would go on to star in other Warhol films; most notably, Lonesome Cowboys, San Diego Surf, and Heat.

Emerson began his musical career with the band, The Magic Tramps. The band, which began in Hollywood in 1969, relocated to New York City in 1971 after Eric joined as lead vocalist. The Magic Tramps played gigs at Max's Kansas City, a favorite hangout among the Warhol Factory regulars. In 1971 Emerson appeared in Jackie Curtis' play Vain Victory: Vicissitudes of the Damned, with Ondine, Holly Woodlawn, and Candy Darling; and with music by The Magic Tramps and Lou Reed.

Close up of the Eric Emerson portrait.

Eric Emerson had two children and his first was a daughter, Erica born in 1967; that was a result of a long relationship with Elda Gentile a founding member of the band The Stilettoes. The two also had a son, Branch Emerson. In 1970 Eric began a relationship with model and actress Jane Forth, who appeared Warhol's films Women in Revolt, L'Amour, Trash, and Bad. Together, they had a son, Emerson Forth.

On May 28, 1975, Emerson's body was found next to his bicycle, near the West Side Highway, in Manhattan. Emerson's death is listed officially as a hit and run and to date, no one has been arrested or charged in connection with his death. Following a weekend-long wake hosted by Max's Kansas City owner Mickey Ruskin, Emerson was laid to rest in Wharton, New Jersey.

In the book Making Tracks, the famous musician Debbie Harry provided an account of the circumstances surrounding Emerson's death:

"One night we were over at Eric's apartment working on a tape of "Heart of Glass" on his Teac fourtrack tape recorder, when he suddenly staggered out of the kitchen looking ashen. He looked even more distraught and sad when we left. Being satisfied drove him crazy in the end, because he had everything so he didn't care about anything anymore. He used to go out jogging every day, and did feats of physical endurance like strapping twenty-pound weights to each ankle and then bicycling up to the Factory. The next day we were sitting around the house just after we woke up when Barbara called with the bad news. "Oh, Eric got hit by a truck." He had been a good friend and inspiration to so many people. We didn't quite understand what had happened, but we went up to a party/wake held for him and saw a lot of people from the earlier glitter days. Eric's death definitely marked an end to the glitter period. We still miss him."

Close up of the number and of the Andy Warhol pencil signature.

Framed "Eric Emerson (Chelsea Girls)," 1982 by Andy Warhol.

A short clip of Eric Emerson singing, wearing leather chaps and completely covered in glitter, in Jackie Curtis' Vain Victory: the Vicissitudes of the Damned at La Mama Experimental Theater Club in May 1971 on opening night. The clip was restored from 1/2" B&W videotape, and was the original counter-culture hit play starring Jackie Curtis, Ondine, Holly Woodlawn, and Candy Darling.

This is a very rare original serigraph portrait of Eric Emerson by the great Pop Artist Andy Warhol derived from source material of a film clip from the Warhol movie "Chelsea Girls," 1966. The print was published in "A Portfolio of Thirteen Prints," containing works by thirteen different artists in order to commemorate the conversion of New York City's Second Avenue Court House into the new home of the Anthology Film Archives, the first museum dedicated to avant-garde film and video. The choice by Warhol to use a film clip of Eric Emerson from Warhol's own cult film was a brilliant decision.

#Warhol #AndyWarhol #popart #EricEmerson #ChelseaGirls #avantgarde #AnthologyFilmArchives #JackieCurtis #Ondine #HollyWoodlawn #CandyDarling #DebbieHarry #TheMagicTramps #LonesomeCowboys #Ondine #MaxsKansasCity #MickeyRuskin #untitledartgallery #signedWarhol #signedAndyWarhol

"Flowers," 1964 Hand Signed and Dated Lithograph by Andy Warhol

Flowers, 1964; Offset lithograph in colors on paper; Signed Andy Warhol and dated 1965 in pencil bottom right; From an edition of approximately 300; Printer: Total Color, New York; Publisher: Leo Castelli Gallery, New York; Literature: Feldman & Schellmann, 11.6; Size; Sheet 23" x 23"; Unframed.

To purchase this work or to visit the Art Gallery, CLICK HERE

In the June 1964 issue of Modern Photography, there was a featured photograph of seven hibiscus flowers taken by executive editor Patricia Caulfield. It was printed three times in a glossy foldout to show the color variation of different chemical processes. When Andy Warhol saw the images he was  undoubtedly drawn to the serial format. To use the image for his paintings and prints, he cropped Caulfield’s photograph into a perfect square and manipulated the flowers so that only four of the original seven fit into a new square format. His unauthorized use of the published photograph caused Caulfield to sue him in 1966 (the matter was settled out of court). However, from that time on Warhol based his art on photographs that he took himself.

Close up of the signature and the date in pencil.

The Flowers, Marilyn Monroe, and Campbell's Soup Cans are generally thought to be the most iconic and well known of all of Warhol's choice for subject matter. They were also early choices from the 1960's during the heyday of POP Art. This is a great early, hand signed, and dated Andy Warhol; and would make a wonderful addition to any art collection.

#Warhol #AndyWarhol #popart #untitledartgallery #PatriciaCaulfield #Flowers #ModernPhotography

"Three figures on a trampoline," 1956 Ceramic Wall Plaque by Pablo Picasso

Three figures on a trampoline, 1956; Partially glazed white earthenware convex wall plaque, painted in ivory and brown, from the edition of 500, with the 'Madoura Plein Feu' and 'Empreinte Originale de Picasso' stamps verso; Size - Plaque 7 1/2 x 7 1/2"; Catalogue Raisonne: A.R. 374; Unframed.

To purchase this work or to visit the Art Gallery, CLICK HERE

During the late 1940s, Pablo Picasso spent the summers on the Cote d'Azur in the South of France. There the artist visited Vallauris for the annual pottery exhibition in 1946. He was impressed by the quality of the Madoura works and was introduced to the owners, Suzanne and Georges Ramié. The Ramiés welcomed the famous artist into their workshop and gave him access to all the tools and resources the he needed in order to work in the medium of ceramics. In exchange, the Ramié family would produce and sell his limited edition ceramic works and this relationship spanned 25 years. It was also at the Madoura factory in 1953 that Picasso met Jacqueline Roque, who would become his second wife in 1961.

Back of the Picasso Wall Plaque.

The Market for Picasso ceramics has been steadily rising as outlined by a recent article:

"Over the past 10 years, the market for Picasso ceramics has steadily grown, with seasoned collectors and new buyers alike vying for Picasso's editioned and unique ceramics at auction. This market is stable, with a steady high sell-through rate around 89% (87% in 2004, 89% in 2005, 87% in 2011, and 90% in 2012), and prices that are still lower than the rest of Picasso's work. The broad range of estimates and sales prices help make this market attractive to many collectors, but also explain the high average sales prices, which are skewed by a few exceptional pieces. In the previous two years, more than 60 exceptional ceramic works sold for over US$100,000: 34 in 2011 and 29 in 2012 (vs. six in 2004 and 2005)." - The Story Behind Picasso Ceramics, by Fanny Lakoubay and Conner Williams, 2013

Close up of the 'Madoura Plein Feu' and 'Empreinte Originale de Picasso' stamps verso.

"Three figures on a trampoline," 1956 is a stunning composition of both movement and form. Pablo Picasso has transformed the art of the textured surface of this ceramic plate by depicting a series of three figures on a trampoline. Each is suspended in mid-air, each in varying positions, and each figure complementing the other in an equally balanced and innovative composition.

#Picasso #PabloPicasso #ceramic #Picassoceramic #Madoura #MadouraPottery #Vallauris #SuzanneRamie #GeorgesRamie #Ramie #JacquelineRoque #untitledartgallery #cubism