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Eleanor Parke Custis
Decorative Frieze of Nude at Beach

Circa late 1930’s

$3,000
£2,242.47
€2,616.65
CA$4,212.61
A$4,285.11
CHF 2,446.86
MX$51,830.81
NOK 28,531.69
SEK 28,968.85
DKK 19,561.37

About the Item

This marvelous photograph taken by Eleanor Park Custis is an iconic nude reflecting trends in the late 1920's and 1930's with the female form in art. In dance and the applied arts - art nouveau and art deco saw the rise of the female form used in new ways - sometimes in the realm of dance and with aids such as fabrics and adornments along with the body - creating arabesque sweeps. Custis was celebrated as the first lady of pictorials in America. She exhibited extensively and wrote on photography and had an impressive career which has been well chronicled. She also traveled extensively, taking photographs in Latin America and the Middle East but she also is known for her depictions of Gloucester harbor. We assume she took this image in the Massachussetts environ and she did edit in different ways. Experimenting with it being a vertical and brightened and darkened but always with an intent to artistically portray the female form in aesthetic manners in line with art nouveau and deco lines. This one takes advantage of a very horizontal Frieze type format which formalizes the feel while the spirit of the nude is free form and uninhibited. A joyous expression of movement and generalized human spirit almost in the allegorical sense of a nymph with a modern day take. Size of photograph inside frame 5 1/2 x 13 inches Not signed but it is from the : Estate of the Artist and comes with a certificate of authenticity. A lovely work to hang anywhere but particularly for a bedroom or intimate spot. Another version of this was exhibited: Union Photographique Lux 1938
  • Creator:
    Eleanor Parke Custis (1897 - 1983, American)
  • Creation Year:
    Circa late 1930’s
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 18 in (45.72 cm)Width: 23 in (58.42 cm)Depth: 1 in (2.54 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
    condition appropriate to age from the 1930's - could be a tiny bit of toning but if there is it is in line once again with the age of the photograph. Good black frame and archival matting with glass.
  • Gallery Location:
    New York, NY
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU1413214228782

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