A small yet impactful mid-century figurative scene capturing two figures seated side by side and absorbed in an activity,  painted in oil onto canvas.

The figures’ forms are simplified into soft blocks of colour, giving the composition a lyrical stillness: one figure in a warm rose-brown dress, the other rendered in deeper charcoal tones. Both bend slightly forward, hands engaged over a table, suggesting companionship, focus, and the quiet rituals of everyday life.

Painted in a distinctly modernist, reductionist style, the artist has distilled the scene into broad, confident shapes rather than fine detail. The palette is muted yet harmonious: pale greys, warm browns, sandy yellows, and touches of turquoise that lift the composition. The background is kept intentionally understated, allowing the figures to hold the emotional weight of the piece.

Brushstrokes are loose, expressive, and opaque: applied in thick, purposeful patches that gradually build the forms. Edges are softened, merging figure and space in a way that feels intimate and contemplative.

This oil on canvas is housed in a complementary gilt frame. Both the painting and frame are in excellent vintage condition.

Size: 24.5 x 35.5 cm (including frame)

A contemplative and uniquely textured mid-century figurative portrait depicting a seated man rendered in profile, executed in oil onto canvas.

Wearing a dark flat cap and simple jacket, the figure appears absorbed in thought, his posture relaxed yet dignified. The composition conveys a sense of introspection and quiet resilience, with the sitter emerging gently from an abstracted background.

Executed in an expressive modernist manner, the painting balances representation with abstraction. The artist reduces the figure to essential forms and gestures, allowing mood and character to take precedence over precise detail. The sparse setting and generous negative space draw attention to the sitter’s presence while enhancing the work’s meditative quality.

The palette is restrained and sophisticated, dominated by soft greys, pale creams, muted whites, and subtle blue-grey tones. Delicate accents of olive green and warm earth colours animate the face and clothing, lending warmth and humanity to the otherwise cool composition. The contrast between the dark cap and the luminous background creates a striking focal point.

The brushwork is loose, painterly, and highly expressive. Broad, sweeping strokes define the background, while layered passages of thicker paint and textured applications bring life to the sitter’s features. Sketch-like linear marks remain visible in areas of the clothing, revealing the artist’s process and lending an immediacy to the work. The combination of fluid washes, dry-brush effects, and impasto-like textures creates a rich surface that rewards close inspection.

This oil on canvas is presented in a complementary slim black-toned wood frame. The painting and frame are both in  good vintage condition.

Size: 69 x 56 cm (including frame)

A compelling mid-century modern figurative composition that portrays a seated female figure rendered through a cubist lens, executed in oil onto canvas.

Wearing a striking cobalt-blue coat and an elaborate floral hat, the figure occupies a loosely defined interior setting populated by still-life elements including bottles, a keyboard, and geometric furnishings. The artist blends portraiture and abstraction, creating a scene that feels both intimate and psychologically distant, with the sitter’s downcast gaze lending the work a contemplative, almost melancholic atmosphere.

The painting demonstrates strong influences of Cubism. Forms are fragmented into angular planes and intersecting lines, with the figure and surrounding objects dissolved into a network of geometric shapes. Rather than striving for realism, the artist focuses on structure, rhythm, and emotional expression, allowing the composition to oscillate between representation and abstraction.

The colour palette is sophisticated and restrained, dominated by rich blues, soft greys, muted creams, and earthy browns. Accents of pale turquoise, dusty pink, and burgundy introduce warmth and visual interest, particularly within the sitter’s hat and the surrounding still-life elements. The cool tones of the figure’s clothing provide a strong focal point against the quieter, atmospheric background.

Brushwork is expressive and varied, combining thin washes with broader applications of paint. Deliberate black contour lines define forms and reinforce the painting’s architectural structure, while areas of dry-brushed pigment and visible canvas texture contribute to its tactile quality.

This oil on canvas is presented in a complementary wood frame with gilt detailing to the outer moulding. Both the painting and frame are in excellent vintage condition. 

Size: 75 x 64 cm (including frame)