Alex Katz (American, b. 1927) - A Cutout of Philip Pearlstein

Oil on canvas, mounted on contoured wood on wood base. 
height: 43 in. (109.2cm)
width: 12 ½ in. (31.8cm)
depth: 6 ¼ in. (15.9cm)
(dimensions include base)

Provenance

The Estate of Philip Pearlstein.

Lot Essay

Philip Pearlstein and Alex Katz shared a close friendship that spanned several decades, rooted in their mutual passion for art and their shared experiences in the New York art scene. Both artists emerged as prominent figures in the post-war American art scene, with Katz gaining recognition for his distinctive figurative artwork characterized by bold lines and flattened forms, while Pearlstein became celebrated for his realist depictions of the human figure. 

Alex Katz began experimenting with painted cutouts in 1959, initially crafting them from canvas mounted on contoured wood. Over time, he transitioned to painting directly onto cut wood and later onto shaped aluminum sheets in the 1960s. These cutouts, whether freestanding or wall-mounted, became a hallmark of his artistic practice, offering a unique exploration of form and space within his signature style. A Cutout of Philip Pearlstein is an intimate portrait painted on canvas and mounted on shaped wood. Given the work’s medium, it is therefore likely to have been among the first cutouts that Katz produced, making it a particularly important early work. 

For more information about The Estate of Philip Pearlstein see lot 31.