Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 14

Yellow and Blue Mid-century Portrait of a Young Woman, 1960s

$416
$82049% Off
£316.06
£62349% Off
€363.22
€715.9649% Off
CA$584.32
CA$1,151.7949% Off
A$636.02
A$1,253.7049% Off
CHF 337
CHF 664.2949% Off
MX$7,649.11
MX$15,077.5849% Off
NOK 4,284.93
NOK 8,446.2549% Off
SEK 3,926.66
SEK 7,740.0649% Off
DKK 2,713.20
DKK 5,348.1449% Off

About the Item

A lovely portrait of an adolescent woman, by an unknown but highly skilled artist. This portrait captures the sensitivity, vulnerability and defiance of young womanhood. It references Vermeer's Girl with Pearl Earring and the classical portraiture style - not only in the subject matter but in the three-quarter pose, natural light from one side, neutral ground, leading the viewer to the eyes and even referencing the pale straw and blue of Vermeer's portrait. This wonderful oil on board has the feel of a spontaneous sketch. Perhaps this young woman was a member of the artist's family, or simply a young person invited to sit. Either way, the portrait is worth spending time speculating over, as it tells a whole story in itself. There's a touch of hauteur, even disdain, in this young woman's uplifted chin and unsmiling lips. She is, as every young woman has experienced, feeling some discomfort at being made the object of another's gaze. In the process, she defies objectification by containing herself, unsmiling and doubtful. We see not only her determination and character but also her vulnerability. Quite aside from the wonderful subject, this painting works beautifully as a decorative piece. Honeyed tones in the hair offset the deep blue eyes. The artist has skillfully modeled the face so that the eyes are the focus of our attention. The hair and areas surrounding the face have been sketched to form a rough texture in the white to off-white ground. There are touches of green in the shading and light blue tones in the clothing. The whole has been beautifully composed, with the lightest of touches. It really captures a fleeting moment of youth. This has all been beautifully highlighted by careful colour matching in the frame. The original frame was in good overall condition and of fine quality but the surface was marked, stained and in poor shape. We have cleaned, sanded and hand painted the frame, choosing a colour in keeping with the period and tone of the portrait. It pops beautifully and makes this portrait a highlight piece that can feature in a gallery hang or make a statement on it's own. Just lovely! The frame and board have been carefully inspected but no signature or mark found. The original backing board and nails have been re-used, but re-taped with new kraft paper tape.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 21.07 in (53.5 cm)Width: 15.16 in (38.5 cm)Depth: 1.38 in (3.5 cm)
  • Style:
    Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1960
  • Condition:
    Refinished. Wear consistent with age and use. The portrait has been cleaned and a high quality artist s varnish applied to protect the oil paint and discourage dust. The original frame has been cleaned, sanded and repainted in a Dulux interior satin finish paint.
  • Seller Location:
    Melbourne, AU
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU2656344876242

More From This Seller

View All
Ochre Yellow Mixed Media on Board c1970 Signed by Latvian Australian Artist
Located in Melbourne, AU
An intriguing landscape study in textured medium and Ochre colours. Offered here is a particularly good example of Brutalist decorative art from the 1970s. In addition, the work is f...
Category

Vintage 1970s Australian Brutalist Paintings

Materials

Gesso, Acrylic, Cedar, Masonite

Lyn Howley Serigraph Les Fleur No. 3 Print Signed 1960s
Located in Melbourne, AU
Original signed Serigraph "Les Fleurs No.3" by Lyn Howley. Produced in the USA, circa 1950s. Lyn Howley's work was produced by Van Amstel Co. Studio Editi...
Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Prints

Materials

Softwood, Masonite, Paper

Ronald Millar Huge Oil on Canvas Interior Still Life 1978
Located in Melbourne, AU
An impressively large and attractive work by Australian artist Ronald Millar. A study in virtuoso tonal painting with wonderfully warm colours setting a mood, evocative of summer hea...
Category

Vintage 1970s Australian Expressionist Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Paint

Large Marine or Ship Painting after Hans Bohrdt 1930s Original Solid Oak Frame
Located in Melbourne, AU
An imposing, muscular impasto oil on board, unsigned, after Hans Bohrdt (1854-1945), in original period solid Oak picture frame. We love this painting for it’s dramatic scale and...
Category

Vintage 1930s Australian Mid-Century Modern Paintings

Materials

Oak, Masonite, Paint

Large Grey Green Abstract Oil on Canvas by Beverley Downie 1978 Original Frame
Located in Melbourne, AU
A very large framed oil on canvas by extensively exhibited Australian artist, Beverley Downie. Downie's keen interest in opera has always influenced ...
Category

Vintage 1970s Australian Mid-Century Modern Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Giltwood

English Art Nouveau Brass Portrait Easel Picture Frame c1910
Located in Melbourne, AU
Large Art Nouveau easel portrait picture frame of fine pressed brass. New ply backing with original camel velvet. Hand and machine made factory production, probably English, from the...
Category

Early 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Picture Frames

Materials

Brass

You May Also Like

Mid Century Modern Framed Portrait Painting of a Woman in Blue and Pink
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A mid-century modern portrait painting of a woman on blue silk. This portrait is professionally framed in a rectangular wood frame with gilt gold detail. The painting is of a woman in a pink button-up top with short blond hair on a blue background. She has piercing blue eyes and a soft pink lip. The painting is matted in cream. This piece has not been examined outside the frame. However, it seems to be hand-painted on silk. This would be a fabulous piece to add to a portrait painting gallery wall, or alone in a powder bath or hallway. It could easily be reframed to fit into any aesthetic. The piece is unsigned from what we can tell. However, it might feature a signature under the matte. The back has a gold sticker that says, "Fergusons' Paint & Decorating, 5118 North May Avenue...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paintings

Materials

Silk, Glass, Wood, Paint

English Midcentury Framed Portrait of a Lady
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
English, circa 1940 oil on canvas portrait of a young woman bearing a confident expression and the curious smile of Mona Lisa. A mottled background of taupe-gray is the perfect compl...
Category

20th Century English Modern Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Wood

Large Mid Century Portrait of a Girl on Board
Located in Redding, CT
Mid century portrait of a young girl on board in red, blue and yellow tones, custom frame, 1960-70's vibe.
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paintings

Materials

Wood, Paint

Large Mid Century Painting Portrait of a Young Woman c1960 Acrylic on Canvas
Located in Trensacq, FR
Large mid century painting Portrait of a Young Woman c1960 Acrylic on canvas. Thought to be modelled on the Iconic French singer-...
Category

Vintage 1960s European Mid-Century Modern Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Listed Artist Ouida Canaday 1970’s Portrait of Beautiful Young Woman
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Listed Artist Ouida Canaday 1970’s Portrait of Beautiful Young Woman. Ouida Canaday, 1922-1994, was an American artist deeply involved in the art scene o...
Category

Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Wood

Figurative Portrait Still Life Painting of a Woman in Blue, Clair Seglem
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A portrait painting of a woman in blue on a masonite board. This piece is unsigned but was brought from the artists' residence. The subject wears a blue jumper with a dark collared shirt underneath. Her hair is brown, and upswept into a low bun. The back side is an abstract mixture of pink dots. This piece was painted by the late Oklahoma artist...
Category

20th Century American American Classical Paintings

Materials

Masonite, Paint