Mod Sanctuary Antiques and Fine Art Gallery: CAROL BLANCHARD (AMERICAN) b.1918, FRAMED O/B FEMALE FIGURE W/FRENCH HAT/POODLES

CAROL BLANCHARD (AMERICAN) b.1918 SIGNED, FRAMED OIL ON BOARD FEMALE FIGURE IN PERIOD FRENCH COSTUME, W/RUFFLED HIGH COLLAR, FITTED PANTS, WOOL HAT, PAIR OF

POODLES & HOT AIR BALLOON

(Circa 1950-1958)

Mid-20th Century

DESCRIPTION:

Offered is this outstanding, very compelling, completely original Modernist figurative expressionist oil on board, by American artist Carol Blanchard (b. 1918) who enjoys extensive artist's listings and exhibition record. The work is a poetic visual narrative of a young female figure in full French period costume, with fitted black wool pants, leather shoes, billowing pin-striped jersey, high ruffled collar and 18th century folded wool French military hat. The girl however, has short, cropped hair in a 1950's French pixie-cut, demonstrating a new-found, post WWII personal, 'feminist' independence and sexual freedom, reminiscent of the self-possessed French female heroine 'Joan of Arc.' The treatment of the figure is extremely sensitive, with very tactile and 'plastic' handling of the figure's sympathetic facial expression. Even the manner in which the figure is leaning against what appears to be a wooden or glass walking stick or cane, is very accomplished and well executed. But more than just skill is on display here in this Carol Blanchard oil on board. Tremendous infusion of the artist's own life force and spirit is poured into the realization of the female figure and is clearly evident. The figure is self-referential and a self-portrait of sort, since Ms. Blanchard wore her hair in this same short, cropped mid-20th century style. The realization of both poodles is exceptional as well, with the dancing dog on the ground, jumping on its hind legs, begging for the same attention as the dog held in the girl's arms. The jumping poodle's tongue is out and the details describing it are exquisite, playful and gestural. The figure clutches another poodle against her body with one arm, while softly grasping the grip of a walking stick with the other. Her legs are delicately crossed, with one foot resting on its point, as if in a ballet 'piruoette' position. In the distance and floating by, as if blown by a sudden wisp of air in the atmosphere, are two people commandeering a hot air balloon, hastily swept across the sky. The painting's surfaces are absolutely beautiful and amazing, with layered, transparent use of color, created by the use of artist oil glazes. This technique was championed and often employed by the Italian master Caravaggio. The image is relentlessly poetic and the visual language invented and literary. The image is also a harbinger for the literary and visual form of 'Magical Realism' that would appear later in literature and visual arts in Europe and in Latin America. The painting remains untouched and is a wonderful package, with its deep, wide-faced, painted period wooden frame. It is being offered without apologies and is fresh to the marketplace, never having been exposed previously after it was originally handled by 'Bresler Galleries' of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The artist's scrolled signature is incised into the wet paint film on the lower right of the painting with a sharp instrument, 'sgraffito' style. All Carol Blanchard's signatures are done in this manner. A portion of the end of her surname is hidden by the wood frame's liner on the right margin of the painting. Tender. Extremely felt and with tremendous transmission of human experience. Gorgeous. Exciting.

DIMENSIONS:

20 ½ " Width x 32 ¾" Height x 2" Depth (Frame)

11" Width x 23 ¼" Height (Image)

CONDITION:

Very Good to Excellent overall vintage condition. The painting is in its original period painted wooden frame with linen liner and still has a 'Bresler Galleries,' Milwaukee, Wisconsin embossed gold gallery label affixed to the back of the wood frame on the original brown paper dust cover. It remains as it has always been, in 100% original, unmolested, undisturbed, untouched vintage condition.