Harold Frank (American born in England, 1921-1995), painting/mixed media on board, ca. 1980 CE. A striking composition by Harold Frank depicting an Abstract-Expressionist inspired rendering of three nude female figures - perhaps the artist's interpretation of the Three Graces - standing in the foreground - their bodies delineated with Frank's signature quick expressive brushstrokes, lyrical lines, and vibrant colors. According to Frank scholar Sandie Stern, "Like his idol de Kooning, Frank chose the human figure, as his principal subject. Variations on women became a lifelong, consistent, ubiquitous theme." (Stern, "H. Frank", p. 16) Frank immigrated with his family to the US through Ellis Island. Growing up in the tenements of the Lower East Side in New York City during the era of the Great Depression and World War II, Frank found Abstract Expressionism to be the ideal means to explore the angst of his world. He once stated, "I can live with the abstract. Life is a mystery." Size: 15" W x 12.75" H (38.1 cm x 32.4 cm); 16.125" W x 13.875" H (41 cm x 35.2 cm) framed
Harold Frank studied art at the Art Students League in New York, the National Academy of Design, Pratt Institute, Chouinard Art Institute, and UCLA where he was a colleague of Richard Diebenkorn (American, 1922-1993), an artist who is oftentimes associated with Abstract Expressionism as well as a pioneer of the Bay Area Figurative Movement. In addition to Diebenkorn, Frank's influences include DeKooning, Picasso, Matisse, and Rouault. While he also created landscapes, non-objective abstract compositions, and still-life paintiings, figures and head studies were the predominant theme of his oeuvre.
For more about Harold Frank, see Sandie Stern's monograph "Harold Frank Abstract Expressionist 1921-1995" (2001).
Provenance: private Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA collection, acquired from Goldberg Auctions, Los Angeles, California, USA in 1968
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#142636
Condition
Some craquelure to the upper section of the composition that is perhaps intentional. Otherwise, painting is in overall excellent condition. Signed in red at lower right. Some minor separation of black paper surrounding the board. Frame is in good condition. Handwritten note on verso states, "Angela Tarcizi wants - call before sell to someone else." There is also a crossed out inventory number on the verso.