Alex Katz (American, b. 1927) - Rackstraw and Pamela (Study)

Oil on Masonite.  
Executed in 1976.
10 x 15 in. (25.4 x 38.1cm)

Provenance

Robert Miller Gallery, New York.
Collection of Paul J. Schupf.
Margaret Lipworth Fine Art, Boca Raton, Florida.
Collection of Jordan and Cynthia Katz, Pennsylvania.
The Estate of Jordan and Cynthia Katz, Pennsylvania.

Exhibition

"Alex Katz: An Exhibition Featuring Works from the Collection of Paul J. Schupf," Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine, July 19-October 6, 1985.

Literature

Alex Katz, Alex Katz : An Exhibition Featuring Works from the Collection of Paul J. Schupf. Augusta, Maine, printed by the J. S. McCarthy Co., 1985, p. 23, no. 19 (not illus.)

Lot Essay

A particular highlight from the Katz collection is Rackstraw and Pamela, a tender study by Alex Katz for a much larger work from 1976. Known for his distinctive style characterized by bold colors, simplified forms and flattened compositions, Rackstraw and Pamela is a notable example of Katz's portraiture and showcases his unique approach to capturing the essence of his subjects. In this painting, Katz depicts realist painter Rackstraw Downes and his wife at the time, Pamela Berkley, both of whom are artists and friends of the painter. The composition, set against the serene backdrop of coastal Maine, is particularly striking due to the close cropping of the sitters, which eliminates extraneous details and focuses attention squarely on the subjects. Seated together at a yellow picnic table, Rackstraw turns to Pamela, as the wind gently tousles their hair and their elbows touch in this intimate moment. Despite the simplified forms, flat planes of color and minimal shadow, there is a depth and complexity to the portrayal of the figures, conveying a sense of their individual personalities and the dynamic between them. The small scale work is packed with emotion and Katz’s signature bravado.