Painting

NamePainting

Artist Purvis Young (1943 - 2010)

CultureAfrican American

Dateca.1985-1991

Place madeMiami, Florida, United States, North America

MediumPaint, masonite

Dimensions12 3/16 × 38 11/16 × 1/8 in. (31 × 98.3 × 0.3 cm)

Credit LineMuseum of International Folk Art, gift in recognition of Janet Fleisher, A.2020.17.11

Object numberA.2020.17.11

ProvenanceThis gift from the estate of Janet Fleisher consists of multiple works by two self-taught artists—The Philadelphia Wireman and Purvis Young--whom Janet Fleisher represented in her gallery in Philadelphia. Fleisher opened the Janet Fleisher Gallery near Rittenhouse Square in the mid-1960s and operated it for more than 30 years, until her retirement in 1996. She showed an eclectic variety of work, including work by self-taught or “outsider” artists, one of the earliest galleries to champion this genre of work. Janet Fleisher passed away in 2010.

DescriptionThis painting is comprised of paint on a Masonite board. The painting is on a long rectangular board with the four corners cut out in 90º angles. The painting consists of a yellow background with two blue round shapes, with multicolored figures of various heights between them. In the upper proper left corner there is a signature by the artist in blue paint.