1 of 8

Raymond Jonson
Watercolor No. 34
1944

About the Item

Raymond Jonson is best known as the founder of the Transcendental Painters Group in Santa Fe, where he settled in 1924 and painted works that were pure abstraction. Before this he was in Chicago and studied with his mentor B.J.O. Nordfeldt where he was greatly affected by the Armory Show Exhibition of 1913, when it traveled to Chicago. Jonson had the opportunity to view the work of Cezanne and Picabia where he saw first hand the free form of nature in stylized forms and shapes. Jonson's interest in theatrical stage design and lighting led him to study the creative possibilities of greatly simplified settings which lead to his stylized form of painting evident in his New Mexico works of the 1924-27. During this period his artwork was based on abstract natural forms and graduated arrangements of colored planes. These pictures were realistic in the sense that certain physical conditions were suggested, but he used repetition of similar shapes to vitalize his canvases. The mechanistic and geometric quality of Jonson's early images reflect the formal components of the local landscape as it is reduced to a diagram of lava and sandstone molded into streamlined shapes. Beginning in 1927 and into the thirties Jonson moved in the direction of schematic abstractions with noticable shapes found in nature. Not all of these were hard-edge or truly geometric, as he began to impose his feelings and interpretations into the scene he was depicting. More and more of the shapes lost their local identities as they were transformed to the needs of the painting. The Universe series, begun in 1935, and the Cosmic Theme series, started in 1936 indicate Jonson's departure from nature and landscapes, and ultimately his release from landlocked concepts completely. These paintings are open, airy, mysterious and not in any way naturalistic and completely design oriented. In 1938, he began to use the airbrush in his work and they represent a unique contribution to painting because of the successful combination of a modern mechanical device and an extraordinarily inventive imagination. Using this method Jonson presented a uniform surface onto which he would add dimensions by his use of startling color juxtapositions. Often, optical illusion was Jonson's intention and his works stand out as among the best paintings in this vein. The artist often referred to himself as an "evangelist" for modernist art in New Mexico and that "if our age leaves anything to posterity in art it will be the abstract."

Creator:
Raymond Jonson (1891 - 1992, American)
Creation Year:
1944
Dimensions:
Height: 22 in (55.88 cm)Width: 35 in (88.9 cm)
Medium:
Board,Watercolor
Movement & Style:
Modern
Period:
20th Century
Condition:
Gallery Location:
Santa Fe, NM
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU460215812

Raymond JonsonRaymond Jonson Abstract Watercolor, 1941 - Casein Tempera No. 1, 1941

$29,500

H 32 in W 24 in D 1 in

Raymond Jonson Abstract Watercolor, 1941 - Casein Tempera No. 1

By Raymond Jonson

Located in Phoenix, AZ

Great abstract work by Transcendental painter Raymond Jonson (1891-1982) Titled: “Casein Tempera No. 1”. Medium: Tempera. Dated: 1941. Image measures: 30" H x 22" W. Frame measures: ...

Category

Mid-20th Century Abstract Abstract Paintings

Materials

Tempera

Jean DelpechAbstract Composition - Watercolor by Jean Delpech - Mid-20th Century, Mid-20th Century

$352

H 8.27 in W 10.63 in D 0.04 in

Abstract Composition - Watercolor by Jean Delpech - Mid-20th Century

By Jean Delpech

Located in Roma, IT

"Abstract Composition" is an original drawing in watercolor on paper, realized by Jean Delpech (1916-1988). The state of preservation of the artwork is good. The artwork represents ...

Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Abstract Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Watercolor

Dale ChismanDale Chisman “Ether Image 9-1-1” 1995 Abstract Watercolor Painting, 1995

$7,950

H 40 in W 54.5 in

Dale Chisman “Ether Image 9-1-1” 1995 Abstract Watercolor Painting

By Dale Chisman

Located in Denver, CO

A compelling 1995 abstract watercolor painting by celebrated American artist Dale Chisman, 'Ether Image 9-1-1 exemplifies the expressive color relationships and gestural energy that...

Category

1990s Abstract Geometric Abstract Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Watercolor

Watercolor Painting By Richard Bolingbroke, 20th Century

$1,475

H 34 in W 34 in D 3 in

Watercolor Painting By Richard Bolingbroke

Located in San Francisco, CA

C. 20th Century - Very Interesting Abstract Watercolor Painting By Richard Bolingbroke

Category

20th Century Abstract Paintings

Materials

Glass, Watercolor

Leo GuidaAbstract Color Shape - Watercolor - 1970s, 1970s

$564

H 19.69 in W 13.78 in D 0.04 in

Abstract Color Shape - Watercolor - 1970s

By Leo Guida

Located in Roma, IT

Abstract Color Shape is an original Contemporary artwork realized in the 1970s in Italy. Original watercolor on paper. Passepartout is included. Total dimensions: 50 x 35 cm. Imag...

Category

1970s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Watercolor

David RuthContemporary Watercolor Painting, 'Untitled', c. 1990's by David Ruth, c. 1990's

$450

H 30 in W 22.75 in

Contemporary Watercolor Painting, 'Untitled', c. 1990's by David Ruth

By David Ruth

Located in Oakland, CA

This is a contemporary abstract watercolor painting by artist David Ruth. This series of paintings often feature bright colors and vibrant layouts that draw the viewer in. They are c...

Category

1990s Abstract Expressionist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

Peter DischleitAbstract Composition - Original Watercolor by Peter Dischlet - 1973, 1973

$528

H 9.85 in W 7.88 in D 0.04 in

Abstract Composition - Original Watercolor by Peter Dischlet - 1973

By Peter Dischleit

Located in Roma, IT

Abstract composition is an original watercolor drawing, realized in 1973 by Peter Dischlet mounted on a white Passepartout: 46 x 29 cm. Hand-signed on the lower right of artwork and...

Category

1970s Contemporary Abstract Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Watercolor

Max EpsteinUntitled 1, Abstract Watercolor by Max Epstein, 1973

$3,000

H 22 in W 30 in

Untitled 1, Abstract Watercolor by Max Epstein

By Max Epstein

Located in Long Island City, NY

Max Epstein, Canadian (1932 - 2002) - Untitled 1, Year: 1973, Medium: Watercolor on Paper, Size: 22 in. x 30 in. (55.88 cm x 76.2 cm)

Category

1970s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Watercolor

David RuthContemporary Watercolor Painting, 'Design for Light', c. 2000 by David Ruth, c. 2000

$450

H 33 in W 25.75 in

Contemporary Watercolor Painting, 'Design for Light', c. 2000 by David Ruth

By David Ruth

Located in Oakland, CA

This is a contemporary abstract watercolor painting by artist David Ruth. This series of paintings often feature bright colors and vibrant layouts that draw the viewer in. They are c...

Category

Early 2000s Abstract Expressionist Abstract Paintings

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

Peter DischleitAbstract Composition - Watercolor by Peter Dischlet - 1973, 1973

$411

H 9.85 in W 7.88 in D 0.04 in

Abstract Composition - Watercolor by Peter Dischlet - 1973

By Peter Dischleit

Located in Roma, IT

Abstract composition is an original watercolor drawing, realized in 1973 by Peter Dischlet and mounted on a white Passepartout: 46 x 29 cm. Hand-signed on the lower right of artwork...

Category

1970s Contemporary Abstract Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Watercolor

Raymond JonsonWatercolor No. 341944

About the Item

Raymond Jonson

You May Also Like

Mid-20th Century Abstract Abstract Paintings

Mid-20th Century Modern Abstract Drawings and Watercolors

1990s Abstract Geometric Abstract Drawings and Watercolors

20th Century Abstract Paintings

1970s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors

1990s Abstract Expressionist Abstract Paintings

1970s Contemporary Abstract Drawings and Watercolors

1970s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors

Early 2000s Abstract Expressionist Abstract Paintings

1970s Contemporary Abstract Drawings and Watercolors

Raymond Jonson
Watercolor No. 34
1944