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Had a chance to bid on this painting on ebay as an unknown signed work. I immediately recognized the signature as being Emil Kosa Jr. However, I do not think that the work matches his style. The signature does seem to be inscribed into wet paint but is also not an exact match. His signature did vary quite a bit so it could be OK. Decided to throw a little over $100.00 at it in the hopes it was real. I was the underbidder so lost the auction. Did I make a mistake by not bidding more or was I right to be cautious? His works have sold for over 20K, though prices are down with the market of late.







Listing:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Early-Impr...YTZ%2BkRic4N4aKqxdRME%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

 

you got red flags
you bid an amount that wouldn't hurt you
you don't have it in your hand to look at

OK...so maybe you could have thrown up a $400 bid without missing any meals...
but the work is rats butt ugly.....and caution was required.....

Move on.....& trust your gut !

 

Did you see this one?

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/13289379_1170-emil-j-kosa-jr-1903-1968-los-angeles-ca

 

Did not see that one. The style is certainly more similar. What really drew red flags for me is the color pallet. His work is generally darker in tone. I am not going to lose any sleep over this but would not be surprised to see this turn up at an auction attributed to him. I could have bid more but would not be surprised if I still would have been outbid. The signature was not that hard to decipher. I actually only stumbled on this with less than an hour left in the auction. Glad I did not get a chance to stew about this for several days...... LOL!

This is the kind of work that California Impressionist collectors love...... Bright pallet, wide valley, with mountains in the distance. The agricultural aspect to it might be considered a bonus to some. While I don't think it the best CA painting ever, I certainly see the charm to it. Even as an unknown artist it could potentially be worth several hundred dollars to the right person. I would not have been hurt by my bid even if it turned out not to be his work.

 

Did Kosa generally sign his name twice. In the example SIS provided, I see two signatures. On the one you bid on, only one signature.

 

I saw that and thought it a little odd but then again it's signed on the back too. Makes it hard to complain about the lack of signature

 

His style has some extreme variations. Did you see this on 1rstdibs?

https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/w...-painting-vivid-red-black-white/id-f_5246233/

I liked the ebay painting. The canvas and stretcher definitely had some age to it. Back then, do you think he was popular enough that someone would copy or forge his work?

 

Well I looked at it again......& maybe it's the butt ugly frame that's getting in the way of my appreciation for the vibrant field colors as they but up against the somber blue hills........but that's just me !

 

I think you were right to follow your instincts.

Debora

 

His work wasn't as scrappy as this. Much softer lines. I think you made a wise choice

 

Thanks for further validation. I also found it odd that the seller claimed they could not decipher the signature. The seller has a history of selling California art, much of it attributed. Hard to believe that they couldn't figure this one out.

 

covering their ass-sets.....