Help identifying watercolor artist

bclark10 · August 25th, 2010, 02:56 PM

We were given the (picture attached) watercolor (?)
some time ago. It came from an old motor yacht that
was being rebuilt.

The watercolor is approximately 10.5" x 13"

There is a raised seal on the frame backing paper that reads
"Mageht Editeur Paris 1929" Research shows this
is the name of a well known Parisian art gallery.

The back of the watercolor has a signature, which I
tried to trace. It appears in one of the photos. The
signature resembles one used by Piet Mondrian,
but the style of the watercolor does not fit his usual
work.

There is another (signature?) on the front, shown in the
third attachment. The "29" probably refers to 1929?

Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.

John · August 25th, 2010, 06:59 PM

The work is done in the style of Kandinsky. The signature also resembles the way Kandinsky sometimes signed his works (example). I believe Maeght mainly published editions -- is it possible this is a print rather than an original watercolor?

John · August 25th, 2010, 07:12 PM

Found it. The original is called "Flach". It's an oil painting that sold for a lot of $$ at Christie's in 2004. Not sure what you've got.

http://www.christies.com/Lotfinder/lot_details.aspx?pos=10&intObjectID=4381261&sid=

bclark10 · August 26th, 2010, 08:39 AM

Thanks very much, John. You certainly nailed it.

We most likely have a print here. which I
took to be a watercolor. (Some of the ink
appears to bleed a bit beyond the outlines
of the drawn figures.)

The raised seal from the gallery clearly has "1929"
embossed in it. Was it common to have prints
made of an oil painting in the same year as the
painting?

Anyway, I guess this is worth taking to an
expert for evaluation and cleaning. Any
recommendations?

John · August 26th, 2010, 11:33 AM

I usually just tell people to find a gallery or appraiser in their area. There's no substitute for seeing the object first-hand.

thatcomedian · August 26th, 2010, 11:05 PM

I wouldn't take that post it note as verification. Is there anything actually on the back. The signature on the front, looks to be part of the print.

August 26th, 2010, 08:39 AM	#4
bclark10 Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 2	Help indentifying watercolor artist Thanks very much, John. You certainly nailed it. We most likely have a print here. which I took to be a watercolor. (Some of the ink appears to bleed a bit beyond the outlines of the drawn figures.) The raised seal from the gallery clearly has "1929" embossed in it. Was it common to have prints made of an oil painting in the same year as the painting? Anyway, I guess this is worth taking to an expert for evaluation and cleaning. Any recommendations?

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

August 25th, 2010, 06:59 PM	#2
John John Malyon, host Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,401	The work is done in the style of Kandinsky. The signature also resembles the way Kandinsky sometimes signed his works (example). I believe Maeght mainly published editions -- is it possible this is a print rather than an original watercolor?

August 25th, 2010, 07:12 PM	#3
John John Malyon, host Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,401	Found it. The original is called "Flach". It's an oil painting that sold for a lot of $$ at Christie's in 2004. Not sure what you've got. http://www.christies.com/Lotfinder/lot_details.aspx?pos=10&intObjectID=4381261&sid=

August 26th, 2010, 11:33 AM	#5
John John Malyon, host Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,401	I usually just tell people to find a gallery or appraiser in their area. There's no substitute for seeing the object first-hand.

August 26th, 2010, 11:05 PM	#6
thatcomedian Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: San Pedro, CA Posts: 210	I wouldn't take that post it note as verification. Is there anything actually on the back. The signature on the front, looks to be part of the print.