On Sept. 28, leading fine art auction house Hindman—which celebrates its 40th anniversary in October—will present the most significant selection of artworks by late Chicago surrealist painter Gertrude Abercrombie, otherwise known as “The Queen of the Bohemians.” Dubbed Casting Spells: The Gertrude Abercrombie Collection of Laura and Gary Maurer, the auction comprises 21 fascinating works from Abercrombie’s oeuvre, including some of her physically largest paintings, from the late 1930s to the ’70s. Here, Joe Stanfield, vice president and senior specialist of fine art, gives us a sneak peek at the most significant pieces in this much-anticipated auction.
Gertrude Abercrombie, “Self and Cat (Possims)” (1953, oil on canvas), signed and dated by Abercrombie, 34 inches by 24 inches
“Self and Cat (Possims),” $300,000-$500,000
“So many of Gertrude’s unique iconographical elements are beautifully on display in ‘Self and Cat (Possims),’ which I consider her masterpiece. Gertrude’s paintings are essentially all self-portraits in some way with pieces from her life such as cats, owls and gloves often standing in for Gertrude, but in ‘Self and Cat (Possims)’ we see Gertrude unveiled, complete with her black cat companion, which appears as an extension of the artist herself.”
“Compote and Grapes” (1941, oil on Masonite), initialed A and inscribed by another hand G, Abercrombie and Gertrude Abercrombie (verso), 1 ½ inches by 1 ½ inches
“Compote and Grapes,” $10,000-$15,000
“The smallest painting in the sale at 1 ½ by 1 ½ inches is the incredibly charming ‘Compote and Grapes’ from 1941. Similar to ‘Blue Screen,’ Gertrude uses one of her favorite tricks of depicting a painting within a painting, and here she fits in two paintings in one that has an overall size of a postage stamp! The amazing frames for many of her paintings are unsung heroes, and this work’s frame is one of the best in the Maurers’ collection because it helps demonstrate that in painting, size does not always matter.”
Gertrude Abercrombie, “Solitude” (1942, oil on Masonite), signed and dated by Abercrombie, 20 1/2 inches by 40 1/4 inches
“Solitude,” $120,000-$180,000
“‘Solitude’ is a quintessential Abercrombie, which depicts an austere and barren landscape, demonstrating her lifelong interest in isolation, desolation and loneliness. The size of this painting alone is an important distinguishing factor, particularly for an artist who predominantly worked on a very small scale. Solitude is the first painting by Gertrude Abercrombie that Laura and Gary Maurer added to their collection, as well as the largest.”
“Dinah Enters the Landscape” (1943, oil on Masonite), signed and dated by Abercrombie, 12 inches by 33 3/4 inches
“Dinah Enters the Landscape,” $120,000-$180,000
“In my mind, Gertrude’s seminal work ‘Dinah Enters the Landscape’ is one of her most personal paintings. This 1943 painting references the birth of Abercrombie’s only child, Dinah, and illustrates the apprehension that many first-time parents have as they turn the page from one chapter of their life into another. Gertrude holds her daughter tightly as she walks over an ominous bridge with water below, with a sense of doubt looming, but her familiar black cat waits on the other side. Stoic. Regal. Ready to embrace their union.”
“Blue Screen” (1945, oil on Masonite), signed and dated by Abercrombie, 8 inches by 10 inches
“Blue Screen,” $50,000-$70,000
“‘Blue Screen’ is Abercrombie at the height of her artistic powers. Set in a Spartan room, we see simply a painting on a wall, a tall blue dressing screen and the faint shadow of a black cat’s head protruding out from the side of the screen. The somewhat monastic room is juxtaposed with Gertrude’s sense of whimsy as the painting on the wall is actually a painting within a painting with the cat’s tail shown instead of his head as he finds shelter back behind the screen. This combination and juxtaposition of loneliness and humor is what makes this painting so dynamic.”
Photography by: PHOTO COURTESY OF HINDMAN
