1957. Likely oil on canvas.
D i m e n s i o n s
Unframed 16 1/2 " x 20" x 5/8"
Framed 21" x 17" 1 1/4"
D e s c r i p t i o n
Date and signature on bottom right corner; no title indicated.
Anne Greenstein was a Montreal artist who lived from 1914 to 2007. She painted in this lovely expressive, and confident style, and her work has a great balance of experimentalism and realism. I see that a lot in this portrait, particularly in the background. Wild colour and slight shadow, it's like this girl is in a pleasant vortex.
I think that expert use of abstraction is what keeps Anne's art circulating auctions and exhibitions today. Her work serves as a great example of post war modernist art in Canada (Quebec mainly), and though not anti-figurative, tweaks in the visual plane, colour use, and focus on shapes in even her realist work set her apart. One of her city scenes was recently featured in an exhibit called Women who defined Canadian Art put on by the Canadian Fine Arts Gallery in Yorkville.
I learned a bit about Anne in her obituary, and it sounded like she had a long, full life. A virtual condolence book from her passing had many nice sentiments:
“Anne was an inspiration for me throughout my life. As a young woman, I saw an adult who lived life fully, was creative, vibrant and sometimes irreverent. She maintained her vitality and loving spirit through all her years. I can see her warm, open smile so clearly in front of me.”
Vintage frame with some wear, but I think the blue is great. Painting is bracketed in. Hanging wire on back.
