Paul Keene (American, 1920-2009) Untitled

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Modern and Contemporary Art

By Freeman's

May 11, 2021

Set Reminder 2021-05-11 11:00:00 2021-05-11 11:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Modern and Contemporary Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/freemans/modern-and-contemporary-art-6871
A collection of Modern and Contemporary art including an etching from William Kentridge's Sleeper Series. Curated by David Weiss, Senior Vice President and Head of Sale for the Modern and Contemporary Art department at Freeman's. Freeman's info@freemansauction.com

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• Lot Description
  Paul Keene (American, 1920-2009) Untitled

  Signed top right, acrylic on panel.
  Executed in the 1950s.

  
  
  (69 1/2 x 23 in. (176.5 x 58.4cm))
  
  

  Provenance

  The Artist.
  Collection of Ben D. Bernstein (acquired directly from the above).
  Private Collection, Philadelphia (acquired directly from the above in the 1990s).

  
  
  Footnote:

  Note

  Paul F. Keene, Jr. grew up in North Philadelphia, certain from a young age that he wanted to pursue a career as an artist. He attended the Philadelphia Museum School of Art (now University of the Arts) before enlisting in the Army Air Force during World War II, serving with the Tuskegee Airmen of the 332nd Fighter Group. Like many artists of his generation, he took advantage of the G.I. Bill to travel abroad, studying at the Académie Julian in Paris for four years, where he was greatly influenced by Picasso, Léger and Matisse. While there, he also helped found Gallerie 8, a collective gallery for American artists working in Paris. Keene later received a John Jay Whitney Fellowship and spent two years teaching in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. These early experiences exposed Keene to mainstream European Modernism, as well as a variety of practices in Caribbean artistic production, which led to his self-described “abstract realist” style. Returning home to Philadelphia in the 1950s, Keene centered his focus on African-American life, in terms of cultural traditions, as well as his personal narrative and lived experience. As a teacher at Philadelphia College of Art, Temple University’s Tyler School, and a founding professor in the art department at Bucks County Community College, Keene greatly influenced the next generation of Philadelphia artists during his career, while maintaining his own prolific production.
  
  Keene once said “I simply need to find the means by which I can render visible my vision of my inner world, as well as my visual interaction with urban anxieties.” [1] Often using the theme of windows in his work, Keene painted landscapes and sky scenes to express this notion of inner and outer vision, and he also used window frames as painting frames to literally provide a window to the viewer. Untitled is presented this way, within a window frame, but gives less a passing moment in time, than evoking the daydream quality of gazing out the window, lost in one’s own thoughts. The figure here is splayed out over a field of vibrant color, juxtaposed over a cross and Keene’s familiar grid pattern, and framed on the right by three abstracted figures with bright halos encircling their heads. The human scale of the work also invites the comparison to a full-length mirror, looking inward to the artist’s inner thoughts and feelings, while bound within the frame. Whether window or mirror, the painting challenges the viewer face to face to envision the world from a new perspective.
  
  [1] “Paul Keene: His Art and Legacy,” https://www.michenerartmuseum.org/mam_exhibitions/paul-keene-his-art-and-legacy/

• Shipping Info

  • No lot may be removed from Freeman’s premises until the buyer has paid in full the purchase price therefor including Buyer’s Premium or has satisfied such terms that Freeman’s, in its sole discretion, shall require. Subject to the foregoing, all Property shall be paid for and removed by the buyer at his/ her expense within ten (10) days of sale and, if not so removed, may be sold by Freeman’s, or sent by Freeman’s to a third-party storage facility, at the sole risk and charge of the buyer(s), and Freeman’s may prohibit the buyer from participating, directly or indirectly, as a bidder or buyer in any future sale or sales. In addition to other remedies available to Freeman’s by law, Freeman’s reserves the right to impose a late charge of 1.5% per month of the total purchase price on any balance remaining ten (10) days after the day of sale. If Property is not removed by the buyer within ten (10) days, a handling charge of 2% of the total purchase price per month from the tenth day after the sale until removal by the buyer shall be payable to Freeman’s by the buyer. Freeman’s will not be responsible for any loss, damage, theft, or otherwise responsible for any goods left in Freeman’s possession after ten (10) days. If the foregoing conditions or any applicable provisions of law are not complied with, in addition to other remedies available to Freeman’s and the Consignor (including without limitation the right to hold the buyer(s) liable for the bid price) Freeman’s, at its option, may either cancel the sale, retaining as liquidated damages all payments made by the buyer(s), or resell the property. In such event, the buyer(s) shall remain liable for any deficiency in the original purchase price and will also be responsible for all costs, including warehousing, the expense of the ultimate sale, and Freeman’s commission at its regular rates together with all related and incidental charges, including legal fees. Payment is a precondition to removal. Payment shall be by cash, certified check or similar bank draft, or any other method approved by Freeman’s. Checks will not be deemed to constitute payment until cleared. Any exceptions must be made upon Freeman’s written approval of credit prior to sale. In addition, a defaulting buyer will be deemed to have granted and assigned to Freeman’s, a continuing security interest of first priority in any property or money of, or owing to such buyer in Freeman’s possession, and Freeman’s may retain and apply such property or money as collateral security for the obligations due to Freeman’s. Freeman’s shall have all of the rights accorded a secured party under the Pennsylvania Uniform Commercial Code.

• Buyer's Premium

  • Hammer Price	Premium (%)
    $0	29.00
    $600,000	23.00
    $3,000,000	15.00