Featured Thoughts & advice on buying this 1934 folk art(?) painting w/only partial signature?

I have an opportunity to buy this painting but the price is almost $300 and I wanted to check here to get your thoughts and possibly who the artist is? (If anyone can tell me who the artist is by a partial signature it will be someone here!)

 

Oh, I like that. 1930s surrealism. Who's selling it? And what are you being told about it? No photograph of the back available? What do the artist's initials read? Is that damage to the lower left corner? And do you think the frame is original?

Debora

 

It's an auction - that's all I got. I was just outbid but want to go higher but wanted to check here because my art choices ... have been hit & miss to put it mildly!

 

It's desirable to my eye. Likely to go higher.

Debora

 

I really like it! Probably just a talented amateur or student, but the faces are so pleasing.

 

Found there was a photo of the back - there are 3 hours left to bid, so please any advice (as a investment although I do like it) would be appreciated!

 

Never buy art as an investment (and I’m an art dealer).

 

Late to the party as I am sure this is sold by now. Did you buy it? Personally, I would be hard-pressed to pay $300.00 for a painting by an artist I could not identify,unless I liked it enough for myself.

 

No - I let it go because it could just be a nice amateur - thank you all I appreciate the help.

 

be interested to know what it sold for ?
you were right not to buy it if you were looking just to flip it
think i would have paid around that much to have it, and hang it
my kind of painting that

 

Certainly something I, for one, would be happy to own (and research properly.) Curious to know what it realized.

Debora

 

Just curious. Can you maybe just briefly explain why you say that. Thanks

 

It sold for $325 + 25% commission. So a little over $400

 

I think you did the right thing. If you had loved it to hang in your home, then you wouldn't have been disappointed to find out it was only worth what you paid. Most art is by unknown individuals and is only worth what price two people are willing to fight it up to on aesthetic grounds alone. That's why it isn't a good investment. Unless it's a known documented artist which is a different story of course.

 

You should buy art as an investment in pleasure. If you truly enjoy something then the monetary increase is of little concern. In addition, art is a very illiquid asset and cannot be quickly or easily sold if you need to monetize it.

 

I saw an episode of Fake or Fortune where they were discussing a potential Gainsborough. If it was a Gainsborough, it would be worth £100,000. The two other major options were that it was by a Gainsborough imitator named Thomas Barker (Barker of Bath), or an unidentified artist. If it was by Barker, the value would be £2,000-3000; if by an unknown, maybe £1,000. All for that one specific painting. My take away from that was that you could buy a painting substantially indistinguishable from a Gainsborough for £1,000. And that's pretty much the difference between buying art as an investment vs. buying art you like.

(The final decision attributed the work to Thomas Barker.)

 

Understood.Thanks

 

I would not have gone to 3 on that pic so think you were smart to pass. I’ve spent a lifetime buying art with investment in mind
BUT will only buy if I love the piece first so I do disagree with Mark but I understand where he’s coming from and would never advise another to buy art for investment.

 

But I would assume that you have also spent far more time learning about art than most before buying. Investing in art requires a knowledge of art and the art market rather than simply buying random pieces at thrift shops in the hope that some might be worthwhile.

 

Do you think it's possible that this piece was once larger? Since the signature seems to be cut off on the side, I'm wondering if it was done on purpose.