Vintage from Mid-20th Century Original Expressionist Oil on Wood Panel "A Flute Player" by well regarded American Artist Mervin Jules, known for his modernist figures and expressive style, who had prioritized social realism's didactic purpose, using it to advocate for justice without succumbing to abstraction's detachment with social undertones.

Mervin Jules (born Baltimore, MD 1912-died Provincetown, MA 1994) attended Baltimore City College in 1930 and received a degree from the Maryland Institute of Fine and Applied Arts in 1934. The following year he went to New York City and studied with Thomas Hart Benton at the Art Students League. Jules's work was first exhibited in 1935. He was artist-in-residence at Smith College from 1945 to 1946 and a professor from 1946 to 1969. In 1969 he became chairman of the art department at the City College of New York. In addition to teaching and exhibiting his work, Jules published articles about art. He had a studio in Provincetown, Massachusetts. 

This vintage from Mid-20th-century Mervin Jules Oil on Wood Panel painting titled "A Flute Player" is an original one-of-a-kind artwork signed by the artist, depicting a young boy sitting down while focused on playing a flute.  
The painting utilizes an expressive, gestural style with a heavily textured background blending rich brown, cream, and ochre earth tones.  The focus remains sharply on the young musician's form, contrasted by the dramatic loose brushwork defining his surroundings.
The style is impressionistic with expressionist influence, and highly visible palette knife and brushwork.  The background features heavily textured, abstract impasto layers in earth tones, creams, and dark ochre.
The expressionistic style and oil painting technique add to the unique and charming nature of this piece, making it a standout addition to any art collection. The detailed handcrafted nature and post-war period of its production give it a timeless appeal that resonates with art enthusiasts and collectors alike.

VERSO: 
- there is an oil abstract painting on the verso of the panel depicting a woman with long, textured blonde or white hair cascading down her back.  The woman is seated on a carved wooden chair or bench, turned completely away from the viewer.  Her left arms rests downward across her side.  The artwork is built with heavy, directional brushstrokes using a primary scheme of crimson reds, deep oranges, ochre colors.  
This art is the raw emotionally, distorted human anatomy, and dramatic color palette heavily echo European Neo-Expressionism and the dark, visceral by post-war figurative artists like Hyman Bloom or Francis Bacon.
I really can’t say how the painting on the front relates to the one on the back.  The relationship between the recto and verso remains undetermined; the two sides appear to be unrelated works sharing the same physical support.

Back to Mervin Jule's painting:

Signed by the artist in lower right, pictures ##1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 12.

Dimensions:   

* the image is 23-1/2"  x  16";   

 * encased in a classic beaded giltwood frame with green inner border and gold beaded inner trim, enhancing its traditional:   28"  x  20" (the frame shows light age-related wear).   

Condition:   THIS ARTWORK IS IN EXCELLENT VINTAGE CONDITION THAT HAS BEEN WELL PRESERVED AND WELL BEING TAKEN CARE OF!

Please review my very detailed pictures above.

WITH STRIKINGLY VIBRANT COLORS - A PROSSESSION TO BE TREASURED FOR YEARS TO COME!


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