Lot 67261: CHARLES TAYLOR BOWLING (American, 1891-1985) Still

CHARLES TAYLOR BOWLING (American, 1891-1985) Still Life with Yellow Drape, 1943 Oil on masonite 20 x 16 inches (50.8 x 40.6 cm) Signed and titled verso: Still Life with Yellow Drape / by Charles T Bowling PROVENANCE: Estate of the artist; Thence by descent to Frances Layne (daughter of the artist); Thence by descent to Pat Layne (grandson of the artist). Charles Taylor Bowling's Still Life with Yellow Drape is an exceptional still life painted in the regionalist style of the 1930s. It conveys a sense of the surreal, in which the viewer is compelled to assess the painting as a flat surface and feel the disorientation that comes with this kind of subtle abstraction. This painting uses formal devices which clearly show the influence of Paul Cézanne's famous still lifes. The edges of the chair are not consistent with reality; they do not match on either side of the drapery. Also, the teapot is tipped forward so that it is viewed from an angle which is inconsistent when compared with the rest of the composition. Bowling worked as a draftsman throughout his career, and this occupation no doubt contributed to the excellent draftsmanship and strong lines which characterize his work. The subject of this painting is distinctly different from that of European artists of Cézanne's time in that, instead of flowers or fruit, the artist depicts a simple house plant growing in a teapot. This theme reflects the starkness of life and the limited luxuries available during the Great Depression.

Excellent condition. Period frame in excellent condition.