CHARLES SHANAHAN (AMERICAN) SIGNED MODERNIST ABSTRACT FIGURATIVE ACRYLIC ON PAPER, TITLED 'SPRING,' 

IN ORIGINAL PERIOD WOOD FRAME W/LINEN LINER

(Circa 1956-1962)

*Purchased directly from the artist's Massachusetts estate

DIMENSIONS:

21" Height x 17 ½" Width  (Frame)

 15 ½" Height x 11 ½" Width ( Image)

DESCRIPTION:

On this Modernist acrylic on paper by American artist Charles Shanahan of Massachusetts and titled 'Spring,' the paper interacted with the acrylic and acrylic washes and shows some episodes of rippling and slight buckling of the paper's surface. It appears the artist chose to use acrylic paint and acrylic paint washes on a paper surface for this work, rather than oil paint and oil glazes on cloth. The result is however, very slippery, extremely plastic and a wonderful hand-to-surface original work. This painting, like others from the same artist and now in our possession, were purchased directly from the artist's estate in Upton, Massachusetts. This piece was most likely done in the late 1950's to early 1960's, as its walnut and linen liner wood period frame is from that era. The painting is not under glass and is exactly the way it was found, with the paper open and not covered over with glass. The artist may have not wanted to flatten the spatial relationships and color vibrations, with the democratic 'evening' created by glass. 100% undisturbed, untouched and in original vintage condition. A very compelling and mysterious painting, where the piece is anything but didactic, with supremely enigmatic, mysterious graphic iconography and very painterly figuration. This is really visual poetry and the artist, the American Charles Shanahan, seems particularly good at it. Tremendous human theater and created atmosphere. Magnificent.

 

ADDITIONAL NOTE:

[*With original artist info paper label attached on the back brown paper dust cover. The original dust cover was replaced, because the paper was already partially torn apart. The label was reaffixed to the new paper dust cover.]

CONDITION:

Good overall vintage condition.