{HISTORY}

There's something so compelling in the details of this vintage portrait. It's tough to decide what exactly warrants a second, third and fourth look. Is it the superior skill level executed in the clothing, the subtle shading in the bright blue eyes, or the labored determination to get her hair framed just right around her face?

Signed in pencil with initials that look to be STA or SFA and dated Germany 1953, most likely this was the work of a budding artist perhaps created in an art class or after-school club. Working with oil pastel on cloth, the colors are bright and complimentary. Coral, teal-grey, almond, light yellow, peach, blush, cherry red, turquoise, light brown and black - all the pop culture colors of midcentury palettes.

Also, we can't help but wonder about the subject - a girl or possibly a teenager - living in post-WWII Germany with a face that looks so familiar, so universal 1950s, it's like we could have seen it a thousand times in any midcentury book about kids and teens. Is she an every girl? A best friend? A sister? A self-portrait? Since it's dated 1953, and we suppose that this girl is in her early to mid-teen years, old enough to have lived during World War II, we wonder what her experience was during the war and how it affected her.

For the artist who captured her image, maybe this portrait was the start of their lifelong career as a painter or a collector. Or maybe it was just a simple assignment executed to the best of their abilities and that was that. 

Here in the Vinatge Kitchen, we think any type of art that makes you pause and reflect deserves some attention, whether it was created by an amateur or an expert. Also this color palette is just fantastic as far as vintage color combinations go. 

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

- Unique subject matter 

- Oil pastel on cloth

- Signed and dated

{CONDITION}

In lovely vintage condition. The cloth is in great shape with no holes or tears. There's an interesting brown stain that fills in the bottom left corner of the portrait (perhaps some spilled linseed oil) which oddly enough matches the colors in her hair, neck and eyebrows so it contributes to the cohesive color arrangement. The artist signed and dated the portrait in the bottom right corner in pencil . One half inch of an age-old piece of tape can be seen from the front. Please see photos.

{SIZE}

Measures  9" inches (width) x 12" inches (length) and weighs .4oz