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Untitled Felt Pen

Gene Davis

Framed size: 22.5 in. (h) × 30 in. (w) x 2.0 in. (d)

$15,000.00

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Abstraction, Bright Colors, Davis, Gene, Decorative Accent, Drawing, Framed, Landscape, Marker, Mid-Century Style, Post-War Twentieth Century, Unique Work, Washingtonian

About the work

Gene Davis’ superb use of color in a modern take on his famous stripes.

Please note that this work may not be available for sale. Please let us know if you are interested before placing your order.

Gene Davis became famous as a leading Washington Color School artist by building an oeuvre of stripes. Despite the ubiquity of the stripes, he was still always able to infuse spontaneity in his work. Davis was never formally trained, and he believed that his nonacademic background freed him from the limitations of a traditional art school orientation.

This drawing exemplifies Davis’ work.

Art historians and color theorists have often discussed that Davis’ stripe works were not based on conscious use of color theory; Davis often compared himself to a jazz musician who plays by ear, describing his approach to painting as ”playing by eye.” His goal in his work was to make complex schemes that lend themselves to sustained periods of viewing. Davis suggested to his viewer, “instead of simply glancing at the work, select a specific color—and take the time to see how it operates across the painting—Enter the painting through the door of a single color, and then you can understand what my painting is all about.”

Attributes	Value
Medium	Drawing on paper, Pen and Ink on Paper
Condition	Excellent Condition
Signing, Dating, and Titling	Signed and Dated by the artist en recto on bottom
Framing	Custom framed and matted using conservation materials
Date	1980-2000
Type	Drawing, Washington Artists

Medium:

Felt pen on white wove paper

Date:

1982

Signature:

Hand-signed by artist, in pencil, en recto lower right, and dated.

Framing:

Framed using strictly conservation-grade materials in a custom-made Kulicke-style aluminum frame with welded seamless corners behind 99% UV-blocking art glass.

Condition:

Fine condition. Bright ink, clean and crisp paper. Without soiling, damage, or signs of handling.

Framed Size:

22.5 in. (h) × 30 in. (w) x 2.0 in. (d)

Sheet Size:

14.5 in. (h) × 22 in. (w)

Provenance:

Likely acquired by Michael Tedrick, Tedrick & Bennett, Inc., San Francisco, circa 1981-82, directly from the Artist. Tedrick oversaw several major residential design projects for the prior owner’s family in which he incorporated many works by Davis.