standing thin-framed female figure with blonde hair, with her hands on her hips, wearing a filmy transparent bluish scarf-like garment over her shoulders; blue object behind woman at right; carpet beneath woman's feet has shades of red and blue

%C2%A9 The Estate of Michael Mazur. All Rights Reserved.

Gloria #4, 1979

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Michael Mazur’s traditional training in life drawing and figurative painting was influential in his focus on narrative themes and the figure during the 1960s and 1970s, an approach that ran counter to the postwar ascendency of Pop Art, Minimalism, and Conceptual Art. Indeed, his penchant for drawing from the model was central to his early career. In this nude portrait from 1979, Mazur demonstrates his formidable observational skills and prowess in expressive drawing. Using bold color, strong contrasts of light and dark, and an ambiguous pictorial space, he imbues his model with a mysterious, dreamlike aura. At the same time, he depicts her with an unforgiving realism that captures her distinctive physical appearance and facial expression. Mazur’s well-honed ability to harmonize form and content lies at the heart of his creative practice.

Details
Title
Gloria #4
Artist Life
1935–2009
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2017.125
Provenance
(John C. Stoller & Co., Minneapolis, sold to McNeil); Donald McNeil, Minneapolis
Curator Approved

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standing thin-framed female figure with blonde hair, with her hands on her hips, wearing a filmy transparent bluish scarf-like garment over her shoulders; blue object behind woman at right; carpet beneath woman's feet has shades of red and blue

© The Estate of Michael Mazur. All Rights Reserved.

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