Blue Gray Landscape by Dorothy Young Graham
This is a dramatic, moody landscape by noted American artist Dorothy Young Graham. Using only shades of blue and gray, she creates a a landscape with just a few lines to indicate hills, trees, a distant plain, and presumably the Moon, given the nocturnal tone of the piece. While it clearly a landscape, it is rendered in an abstract, stark, other worldly manner, that gives it a surreal quality. This is typical of the artist's work--prosaic subjects rendered in a way to alter the reality. This reflects her study with Grant Wood at the University of Iowa in the 1940s, but I also see the influence of another Iowa artist Marvin Cone. She produced many works in watercolor--one of the few to use this medium in a modern art context. Her work, while distinctly modern, is sedate, in contrast to the abstract expressionists. There are gestural elements, but these are very controlled and used intentionally to create the composition. This work dates from 1960 and is signed and dated in pencil lower right, DE Young '60. The piece is in very good condition, although it has not been examined out of the frame. The backing is not archival, but the minor waviness at the upper margin should be manageable with reframing, which would be recommended given the value of the piece and the need to improve its presentation. The work itself is 29 x 17 inches and the framed size is 31.25 x 20 inches. This is a fine piece by a noted artist.
Dorothy Young Graham (1922-2001) was born in Illinois. Her initial artistic training was from Stephens College, but she received a BFA from the University of Iowa where she studied with Grant Wood. She received additional study in painting from Fletcher Martin and Robert Brackman, and studied printmaking with Adolph Dehn. She spent her career in the Midwest, primarily Iowa and exhibited extensively, including an ongoing relationship with the Davenport Museum of Art (now the Figge Art Museum). She was quite prolific, but little is known about her career or life. Several of her works are held by the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
Price: $725
Size: 29 x 17 inches
Framed Size: 31.25 x 20 inches
Condition: Very Good
Medium: Watercolor
Subject: Landscape
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