Wade Reynolds (1929–2011) Portrait of a Young Woman, 1964 Oil on Canvas
Made in USA 1964.
Approximately 16” High x 20” Wide
Striking mid-century figurative oil painting by American artist Wade Reynolds (1929–2011), depicting a contemplative young woman emerging from a deep, nearly black background.
Signed and dated lower right, “Wade Reynolds ’64”.
This intimate 1964 portrait exemplifies those characteristics. The sitter’s softly illuminated face and downcast, distant gaze contrast dramatically against the dark background and clothing, creating an unusually compelling and introspective image.
Other documented Reynolds paintings from 1964–1965 are similarly signed and dated at the lower right, including works catalogued with the signature format “Wade Reynolds ’64.”
Artist & Exhibition History: Wade Reynolds was the subject of the substantial 1968 publication Wade Reynolds: The Man and His Art, an illustrated volume devoted to the artist and his work. His career was later celebrated in the retrospective exhibition Wade Reynolds: Full Circle at the Arnot Art Museum in Elmira, New York, held September 24–November 28, 2004. The accompanying museum catalog discusses Reynolds’s career, California-period figurative work, introspective models, isolated compositions, and distinctive layered painting technique. Together, the dedicated publication and museum retrospective document Reynolds as an established American figurative artist whose work received both published and institutional recognition.
Reynolds was an American realist painter known particularly for portraits and figurative subjects. After working in New York theater and stage design, he moved to California and developed a body of psychologically introspective figure paintings. The 2004 Arnot Art Museum retrospective catalog Wade Reynolds: Full Circle discusses Reynolds’s California-period models and his practice of isolating figures in space, as well as his technique of building prepared canvases with layers of drybrush and alternating warm and cool tones to create luminous flesh.
Excellent vintage condition consistent with age. The painting remains visually strong with the original period stretched-canvas construction. Please review photographs for surface and frame condition. Museum Catalog for visual only NOT INCLUDED in sale.
