gouache on paper (cardboard), c. 1923
The painting shown above was probably a practice work in
which the artist became more interested than he expected to.
The materials are inexpensive; much of the design and
painting is casual, and parts of the painting were never
completed. On the other hand, the face is very carefully
and expressively modeled. The subject, the artist's niece,
at the time was nine years old.
The work was put away in a folder for most of the next
eighty years; hence its colors remain vibrant for us today,
a treasure unexpectedly found and taken out of a long-hidden
chest.
watercolor on paper, c. 1936
Time has yellowed the paper and faded the paint somewhat on
what was probably an informal work; yet the powerful organization
of form and color, and the confidently masterful technique come
to us across six decades undimmed, and present us with a
young woman, at once innocent and sensual, simple and
intelligent, on the threshold of the world.
enamel paint on plywood
This is a pair of paintings which were affixed to
the wall of a rock club in Stapleton, Staten Island,
New York. The club burned down in 1993 or '94. The
front wall and the paintings survived. The paintings
both consist of two pieces of thick plywood each,
fastened together; the paint appears to be ordinary
enamel paint. Before the paintings were rescued,
graffiti were sprayed on them; these have been mostly
removed without apparent damage to the paintings.
The paintings are presented together, as they might
have appeared on the building, although somewhat
closer together. On the back of one is a mark which
may be a series of linked H's.
It has been my hope that the artist would come forward
and claim them, but none has appeared so far. I am
responsible for the title.
-- Gordon Fitch
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