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Harold Town
Vale Variation: To The Right

$3,950
£2,953.60
€3,449.63
CA$5,549.75
A$5,620.81
CHF 3,228.87
MX$68,159.60
NOK 37,454.54
SEK 38,124.41
DKK 25,789.63

About the Item

Harold Town (1924-1990) is renowned across Canada for his eclectic and dynamic body of work. In the 1950s, Town established his reputation with a series of abstract monotypes (called "Single Autographic Prints"). He would exhibit these works at the Venice Biennale to great fanfare in Europe and at home. By the 1960s, he was considered the most famous artist in Canada. One of the most remarkable characteristics of his career is his alternating between working in figuration and abstraction. From 1972 through 1977, Town created "Vale Variations", a series of works that drew inspiration from a single pen and ink drawing by his friend, Florence Vale. These drawings typically have three key representational elements: nude silhouettes (often evocative of Matisse), angels, and a mountain. While the color and details varied, there was consistently a playful exploration of form and line work. The series is easily recognizable for its graphic forms and allusions to mythology. This Vale Variation is a dynamic paradigm from the series, completed during the tail end of the era. Rendered in dramatic washes of India ink, this drawing reimagines Vale's original work, "Pyramid of Roses," infusing it with a remarkable motion and mystery. Here, stylized figures emerge as negative space, their forms stretched, elongated, and exaggerated through the surrounding black ink. Town introduced this bold and silhouetted style in the late 1970s. Bound by the subject matter, "Vale Variations" offered the artist an avenue to challenge his expansive imagination and unwavering commitment to his artistic evolution. Today, Town's work is represented in prestigious collections across North America including the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Museum of Modern Art (New York), and the Guggenheim (New York). Questions about this piece? Contact us. "Vale Variation: Pyramid of Roses" Canada, November 1977 Ink on paper Signed and dated, lower edge Signed, dated, titled, and variously annotated, verso 22.5"H 28.5"W (work) 26"H 32"W (framed) Newly framed with museum glass Very good condition Provenance: The Estate of Harold Town (inventory no. 10942)
  • Creator:
    Harold Town (1924 - 1990, Canadian)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 28.5 in (72.39 cm)Width: 22.5 in (57.15 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
    very good condition.
  • Gallery Location:
    Toronto, CA
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 07-261stDibs: LU215218409672

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