Claude Monet’s Portrait, Georgia O’Keeffe’s Alligator Pears in 500 Gallery’s Decorative Elegance Sale

A Claude Monet-attributed work titled Personnage au Chapeau is a leading lot in the Decorative Elegance Auction, presented by 500 Gallery. It is an 1867 oil on carton board bearing several interesting marks, stamps, and inscriptions, signed “Cl. M.” Monet (French, 1840 – 1926) often found himself in financial difficulties. Monet’s paintings were often rejected and were not a commercial success during his early years. After the birth of their first child, Monet and his first wife, Camille Doncieux, experienced financial hardship and despair. This unfinished portrait likely dates from this time. Commissioned portraits generated occasional income more rapidly for Monet. The available portrait depicts a young person wearing a hat and a white shirt. The hat creates a shadow, offering a strange look to the character, whose eyes do not appear immediately to the viewer. Another notable painting in the sale is Alligator Pears, which is attributed to Georgia O’Keeffe (American, 1887 – 1986). It is a 1920s oil on sack cloth by the American modernist painter known as the Mother of Modernism.

A work after Frida Kahlo’s vibrant self-portrait with a monkey is another notable lot. It is a 1947 oil on canvas, framed in gilt, signed and dated with an import sticker from South America. Kahlo (Mexican, 1907 – 1954) often expressed her struggles through art, exploring themes such as identity, gender, and Mexican culture. Her unique style combined Surrealism, folk art, and symbolism, often featuring self-portraits that vividly depicted her pain and resilience. Kahlo’s artworks continue to inspire and influence artists worldwide, leaving a lasting legacy in the art world. View the complete catalog of this Decorative Elegance sale and register to bid in other online auctions on Bidsquare.