ARTHUR BEECHER CARLES (PA, 1882-1952) - Still Life Abstraction, oil on linen, signed lower right, inscribed in charcoal on linen verso "To Emma Rea from Carles, 40" and on a taped on note "For Emma Rea" (she was his model, appearing in his work from 1905 or so). Unframed. 24" x 35". Losses to corners, stretcher impression. Carles was a proponent of Abstract Modernism, living briefly with Hans Hoffman in the mid-30's. Towards the end of his career, Carles paintings became more aggressively abstract, foretelling American Abstract Expressionism. What might have been germinal ended abruptly due to a debilitating stroke in 1941 (the year after this painting), which left him an invalid until his death in 1952.