Theodor Kern (Austrian, 1900-1969); An Oil on Board Portrait of a Gentleman c.1940

SOLD

Origin: British
Period: Early/Mid Twentieth Century
Provenance: Unknown
Date: c.1930-40
Width: 15”
Height: 20”

The unframed oil on board showing a young male depicted three quarter bust, cropped to the left flank of the board, looking out to the viewer, the vacant space awash with a sea green, painted by Theodor Kern in the second quarter of the twentieth century.

In entirely original condition the work does not have any restorations or flaws to note. It is unframed and unsigned.

The palette used here is soft, with an abundance of pastille shades, the brush strokes can clearly be seen, the work probably finished quite quickly and the style is very much in keeping with style of portraiture in the 1930s and 40s.

Theodor Kern was an Austrian artist, born in 1900, who studied in Europe before settling in Bearton Green, Hitchin, where he lived until his death in 1969. As well as being a former teacher at Luton School of Art, Kern produced a wealth of paintings in a huge range of styles and subjects, including self portraits, still life, landscapes and cubism. He developed a good relationship with Luton Museum’s then curator Peter Smith. After Kern’s death he bequeathed part of his studio works to Wardown Park Museum.

A picture, which works beautifully by using the space of the canvas to lift the gravitas of the sitter.

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