Portraits – Page 10 – The Discerning Palette

Showing 271–284 of 284 results

Reader in Green

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A serene and minimalist mid-century figurative portrait, executed in oil onto canvas and dated 1962.

The painting captures a portrait of a young girl reclining with a book in hand. Her posture is relaxed, partially lying across a muted beige cloth and green surface, but her facial features are left undefined, leaving an air of mystery. The absence of facial details invites the viewer to focus on her posture and the quiet intimacy of the scene.

A restrained palette of muted greens and soft beiges dominates the palette, evoking a sense of calm and enhancing the contemplative mood. The brushstrokes are soft and deliberate, giving the painting a soothing quality.

The painting is housed in a complementary slim gilt frame. There is a very tiny area of paint loss to the figure’s face, as shown in close up. Otherwise it is in very good condition overall.

Size: 58 x 84 cm (including frame)

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Robert

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A confidently executed and emotive mid-century abstract portrait, painted in oil onto canvas.

Abstract in nature, the features of a face have been fragmented and simplified into geometric shapes and blocks of colour, with overlapping planes that distort the natural proportions.

The artist has used a restrained colour palette with shades of yellow, beige, brown, and black. The occasional interplay of black adds structure and contrast.

The brushstrokes are expressive and textured, with a visible, gestural quality that contributes to the painting’s boldness.

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

Size: 35.5 x 24.5 cm (including frame)

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Serene Swim

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A serene mid-century modernist composition, executed in oil onto board by Swedish artist Eric Elfvén (1921–2008), whose works have been exhibited in public collections including the Moderna Museet in Stockholm, Jönköping Museum, Borås Art Museum, and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

The composition depicts a figure within a tranquil coastal landscape setting. Standing on a rocky shore with a backdrop of the sea, the figure appears to be gazing out at the water, contemplating taking a dip in the sea.

The colour palette is rich and restrained, consisting of a harmonious mix of forest greens, cool blues, sandy tones, and soft pink hues of the figure. The brushwork is loose and expressive, giving the piece a sense of immediacy and vibrancy.

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

Size: 42 x 34 cm (including frame)

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Espresso

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A modernist style figurative composition, painted in oil onto board.

This composition depicts a male figure seated by a table with a cup of espresso. The figure has been painted in a stylised manner, with his body and limbs elongated in an almost surrealist way, reminiscent of the Modernist painter Amedeo Modigliani. The artist has played with scale and perspective, flattening the image so that figure appears almost to be sitting on top of a downward facing table. This playfulness is also evident in the use of colours as well as the in the figure’s casual pose. There is a lovely balance to this composition, which has been executed in a restrained palette that works effectively.

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

Size: 43 x 36 cm (including frame)

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Mystical Connection

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An expressive mid-century figurative composition, executed in gouache onto board and dated 1965.

The composition features two elongated figures facing each other, their forms simplified to emphasise symmetry. Both figures are painted in deep shades of red and earthy browns, contrasting with the muted grey and cream background. Above each figure’s head floats a red circular shape.

The colour palette is restrained yet evocative, with earthy reds, blacks, and greys, heightening the emotional resonance of the scene.

The brushwork is expressive, with loose, broad strokes in the background that create texture and movement in the sky, while the figures themselves are painted with more controlled strokes.

The use of gouache allows for rich, opaque colours to beautifully overlay one another, displaying flatness yet demonstrating depth to the painting.

The painting is presented in a card mount and a wood frame, and is glazed (there is a layer of glass between the frame and the painting to ensure its longevity). The painting is in good vintage condition, and the frame has some marks, commensurate with age.

Size: 81 x 66 cm (including frame)

Free domestic (UK) shipping. As this artwork is fairly large, it is unlikely that we will be able to ship it internationally. If you are very interested and are located outside of the UK, please contact us and we will see what we can do.

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Oliver

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A brilliantly executed post impressionist portrait composition, painted in oil onto board.

Skilfully executed in non naturalistic colours, we see a bust of a male figure, painted in a stylised manner, with his features accentuated through the of saturated colour. The artist has used greens, blues and purples in the figure’s face, and added two circles of pink to indicate the cheeks. His nose is marked with a long line of yellow, outlined in red. These bold, thick outlines give the figure its stylised appearance, and adds so much character and playfulness to the portrait.

The painting is housed in a gilt frame that illuminates it beautifully. Both painting and frame are in excellent vintage condition.

Size: 30 x 25 cm (including frame)

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Kenneth

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An emotive and wonderfully executed mid-century modernist figurative composition, painted in oil onto canvas.

The painting presents a seated male figure clad in a black shirt, sitting against a striking yet subdued abstract backdrop of red, cream, and muted tones.

The artist has deliberately chosen to omit the facial features of the figure, and there is a strong focus on energetic brushstrokes and colour.

The unrestrained and gestural application of paint enhances the expressive and emotional intensity of the composition.

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

Size: 67 x 56 cm (including frame)

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Knitting at Home

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A mid-century modernist painting that captures a serene and homely moment, executed in oil onto board.

A figure, dressed in a maroon sweater, is seated on a green chair in a cosy home setting, engaged in the task of knitting. Behind the figure is a small flower pot by the window, contributing to the overall warmth and comfort of the interior.

Modernist in ethos, the colours have been applied in blocks of contrasting shades and expressive brushwork. The gentle muted palette — with earthy tones of beige, maroon, and olive — exudes a calming atmosphere and the respective shades harmonise wonderfully together.

This oil on board is housed in a complementary wood frame with an inner coloured border. The painting is in excellent vintage condition, and the frame has minor age marks.

Size: 56 x 48 cm (including frame)

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Stillness of Dawn

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An atmospheric and serene mid-century modernist style composition, executed in oil onto canvas by the established Swedish artist Fabian Lundqvist (1913-1989), whose works have been represented in many public collections in Sweden.

The painting depicts 2 female figures standing in front of a row of houses, under a moody blue sky at dawn. Thoughtfully revealing only the upper half of the figures’, the figures’ coloured clothing contrasts against the otherwise restrained palette of blue and brown tones, allowing them to stand out as the focal point.

Painted with a modernist ethos, the artist has reconstructed and simplified the forms of the houses down to flat blocks of contrasting colours to create a sense of space and depth.

The artist’s brushstrokes are gentle and precise, reflecting a careful attention to detail and a desire to capture the quiet beauty and stillness of the moment. Intentionally working with a limited colour palette comprising subdued shades, the painting creates a nostalgic and atmospheric ambiance.

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

Size: 41 x 49.5 cm (including frame)

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The Dance

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This acrylic on board is housed in a complementary slim wood frame. Both the painting and frame are in excellent vintage condition.

Size: 47 x 39 cm (including frame)

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Seated in Sunlight

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A brilliantly executed oil composition painted by the established Swedish artist Ivar Morsing (1919-2009), whose works have been exhibited in public collections including the National Museum in Stockholm, Moderna Museet in Stockholm, Kalmar Museum, and Jönköping Museum.

The composition presents a figure wearing a white hat, seated by a pond and with a background filled with lush dense foliage. The figure has a radiant glow, and is bathed in soft sunlight yellow that subtly illuminates her presence.

The artist has used a vivid palette of rich, earthy greens, blues, contrasting wonderfully with soft pastel hues.

Rendered with short dabbed as well as loose and unrestrained brushstrokes, the painting evokes the Impressionist technique of the artist’s desire to capture the natural and transient elements created at that fleeting moment in time.

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

Size: 45 x 48 cm (including frame)

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At the Water’s Edge

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A small but very impactful mid century modernist composition in oil, painted onto canvas board.

With a distinct focus on form and colour, the artist presents two figures by a tree, painted in a semi abstract manner. There is a wonderful play of angles, line and shapes, creating different planes of colour that combine really well. The figures appear to be sitting on a river bank, with one figure looking out towards the water. The artist has contrasted the richer, earthier colours of green, brown and dark blue, against the lighter blue of the background which alludes to the water or sky.

The oil on canvas board is presented in a gilt frame that suits it very well. There is a light crease line on the canvas that has been laid to the board but this is does not detract from the overall appearance.

Size: 24.5 x 27 cm (including frame)

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The Matador and the Bull

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An emotive and brilliantly executed mid-century semi-abstract oil painting by Swedish artist Eric Elfvén (1921–2008), whose works have been exhibited in public collections including the Moderna Museet in Stockholm, Jönköping Museum, Borås Art Museum, and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

The composition captures the dynamic interaction between a matador and a bull. Executed in an abstract manner, the scene is rendered through a masterful reduction of form, where bold simplified forms in contrasting colours intersect to create depth and intensity. The limited earthy colour palette, predominantly composed of browns, deep reds, and black, coupled with expressive brushstrokes, evokes a profound emotional resonance, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in the drama and passion of the bullfighting spectacle.

This oil on board is housed in a complementary champagne-painted wood frame with an inner linen lining. The painting is in excellent vintage condition, and the frame has some scuffs.

Size: 35 x 46 cm (including frame)

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George

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A mid-century modernist style figurative composition that evokes a soothing and contemplative atmosphere, executed in oil onto canvas and dated 1951.

The painting presents the side profile of a seated man, his form gently outlined by thin brown strokes that define his silhouette. The background is deep red, offering a striking contrast to the figure, yet the overall feeling is one of calm.

The colour palette is restrained, and the brushstrokes are expressive yet soft and flat.

The artist creatively plays with negative space, leaving portions of the canvas exposed and accentuating the form of the figure.

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

Size: 48 x 40 cm (including frame)

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