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

Provenance:

Janet Fleisher Gallery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Freeman's, Philadelphia, sale of June 4, 2000, lot 83.

Acquired directly from the above sale.

Exhibition:

"Arthur B. Carles: Painting with Color," Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, September 23-November 27, 1983; traveled to Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., April 17-September 27, 1984, cat. no. 52.

Lot Note:

To learn more about the artist, please see Lot 111. For other works by the artist in this sale, please see Lots 62, 63, 79, 108, 111, 164, 165 and 204.

Lote Essay:

Arthur B. Carles traveled extensively to France early in his career. In June 1921, while planning his third visit, he expressed to his longtime friend Alfred Stieglitz: “I am going to France this summer. I'm as excited as a honeymooner.” During his stay, Carles spent much of his time at Edward Steichen’s home in Voulangis, east of Paris.

The present work depicts the village steeple, which Carles renders through its bold, geometric form. His vivid use of color pushes the subject toward abstraction, capturing its essence rather than its literal appearance.