Featured Pal Fried Portrait of a Woman in Fancy Dress

I bought this at a consignment shop this morning for $60 and I was hoping people would take a look and offer some opinions. I am curious with the info attached to the back why they would only ask $60, auction estimates would seem to indicate more? What period do you think the clothing is? Why do you think that the auction estimates are so all over the map? The painting is oil on canvas and measures 32" by 24" and is in excellent condition, with a recent reframe.( Not a fan of the frame )

 

Too interesting! He did the famous Gabor sisters portrait.

Debora

 

This could well be same dress and same model.

Debora

 

I thought 1930s at first but given volume of skirt and deeply cut back, 1950s I think.

Debora

 

Wow, that brings back memories!

 

I like your painting very much. It has an magazine, illustrative quality about it, nice composition, cropping of the subject. I don't mind the frame, as it does not detract for the artwork.

 

I think it would benefit from a period frame. Perhaps something pickled. And with a bit more dimension. The new frame has a flattening effect and impacts the paintings depth.

Debora

 

Pal Fried/Fried Pal often painted ballet dancers. I had a couple of vintage prints in my daughter’s room of his ballerinas.

 

Debora,

Are these the types of profiles you were thinking?

 

Love this and agree on 50s. Terrific painting. He was definitely accomplished and Academie Julian was highly respected. I don’t love the frame either but i never reframe unless
the frame is trashed or beyond hideous and just think this one is merely innocuous and too rustic for the piece.

 

Hate to have to ask, but are you sure this is a painting & not a print on canvas?

 

Fair question above.

Debora

 

He seems to have returned to the same subject a number of times.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2840985467...MI8oec2sya8gIV9z2tBh0UtQWGEAQYBCABEgLl3_D_BwE

Debora

 

Newer frame on painting above too.

Debora

 

I looked it over really well with my magnifying glass, especially in the areas where it transitioned from one color to another. You can see brushstrokes and that fineness of the overlapping that I don't think you can get with a printing technique. I do have to admit that I don't spend a lot of time looking at canvas prints, so I don't know what is technically possible with that medium.

 

Why don't you just make sure by opening back up? The backing is new and you can always replace.

Re frame... For higher drama, I think you could go wider and deeper. Something along the lines of this.

Debora

 

This is what a friend calls 'overdescribed': supplied with a lot of information to sound important, but nothing really specific to this piece. Nothing represents this as a painting or even gives it a title.

 

Are you sure you're not seeing a high fidelity image of brushstrokes? What do your fingertips tell you?

 

He really did seem to revisit the exact same subject over and over.

Debora