Artist: Josef Presser - Alias: Joseph Presser, Polish American, 1909–1967, Painter Etcher Illustrator. Known for: Figurative expression, landscape painting
Title: Two Figures
Framing: Unframed
Size: approx. Width 12” X Height 18”
Material: Paper
Signature: Signed by Artist
Date Created: Mid 20th Century
Medium: Watercolor and ink on paper
Style: Abstract Expressionism/Modernism
Movement: Abstract Expressionism
Influences: Cubism, Surrealism, German Expressionism, Modernism
Gallery Price: $2,500.00
* DJosef Presser (Polish/American, 1907-1967) "Two Figures" is an original mixed-media work on paper, combining watercolor and ink in his characteristic modernist figurative style, often featuring stylized human forms with bold lines and vibrant washes. Typically signed lower right, these pieces measure around 17 x 11 inches (sight) on laid paper, undated but from mid-20th century (circa 1940s-1950s). Gallery retail for comparable signed originals in excellent condition ranges $2,400–$3,900 USD, as seen on platforms like Art Brokerage for similar gouache/watercolor figural works (e.g., "Boys" at $2,600, "Two Horses" at $2,600). Values depend on condition, provenance, and exact medium.
Description
An abstract composition featuring two stylized figures rendered in watercolor and ink. The figures are depicted with elongated features and bold, expressive lines. The color palette is vibrant, with a mix of green, red, blue, and other hues. The background is a dark, muted tone, contrasting with the colorful figures. The overall effect is one of emotional intensity and dynamism.
Additional Information
This painting exhibits characteristics consistent with the Abstract Expressionist movement, reflecting the artistic trends of the mid-20th century. Its current location and detailed history are unknown.
Josef Presser was born in Lublin, Poland. He studied at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts School, in Europe, and with Bryant Baker, Henry Hunt Clark, Philip Hale, and William James. He was a member of the Philadelphia Watercolor Club and the New Haven Paint and Clay Club and exhibited at the Carnegie Institute, Pittsburgh, The Art Institute of Chicago, The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. His work is in many museum collections, both here and abroad, including the Uffizi, Florence, The Whitney Museum of American Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Philadelphia Art Alliance, Philadelphia.
Source: Frank S. Schwarz and Son, Philadelphia
