What Do You See? The Collection of Sidney Rothberg, Part II

Anne Ryan's paintings from the mid-1940s represent something of a crossroads in her career. While she had previously experimented with etchings and portraits, this period saw an increased emphasis on still life. These works often balance intimate depictions of everyday objects (i.e. fruit or, as in the present lot, household furniture) with a burgeoning interest in abstraction. It is conceivable that Ryan’s shift towards a bolder palette and simplified forms hints at the influence of the emerging Abstract Expressionist movement. Works like Table laid the groundwork for her mature, small-scale collages, which solidified her position within the post-war avant-garde.