Thomas Chimes (American, 1921-2009) - Faustroll

Signed and dated ‘Chimes 1982' bottom left, titled and dedicated verso, oil on wood panel.
11 x 13 in. (27.9 x 33cm)

Provenance

The Artist.
Private Collection, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (by family descent).

Lot Essay

In this painting from 1982, Thomas Chimes revisits one of his favorite subjects, Dr. Faustroll, a character created by the French, turn of the 20th Century writer Alfred Jarry. Faustroll is often seen in profile, looking off to a point outside of the composition, a symbol for Chimes of the unconventional thinker. Based originally on a photograph of Jarry himself riding a bicycle, the painter often conflated the two figures, real and fictional, to question reality, embrace the irrational, and explore the boundaries of the human imagination.

Chimes was born in Philadelphia in 1921 and studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, later earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Pennsylvania in 1948 and living most of his life in the city. He created a wide range of artwork, including paintings, drawings, etchings and sculptures, often featuring dreamlike landscapes, geometric shapes, and enigmatic symbols, challenging viewers to explore the boundaries of reality. The May 11 auction features a sampling of this range, including a 1976 portrait of the author Aubrey Beardsley, and two 1990s “white” paintings that include quotes and equations, one just three inches square.