The Lost Felice - Marsden Hartley

Marsden Hartley's 'The Lost Felice' is a striking figurative painting from his late period, featuring bold colours and simplified forms that evoke a sense of melancholy and mystery. A powerful piece of American Modernism for the contemporary home.

Marsden Hartley's 'The Lost Felice', painted circa 1939, is a poignant example of his late figurative style, reflecting a period of personal reflection and artistic re-evaluation. Hartley, a key figure in American Modernism, spent significant time in Europe, absorbing influences from Cubism and German Expressionism, but later returned to his native Maine, seeking a more authentic American voice. This painting, with its simplified forms and intense emotionality, embodies that search. The composition features a central figure, presumably a fisherman or cook, holding a fish, flanked by two hooded figures. The colour palette is striking, dominated by stark contrasts of white, black, red, and blue. The faces of the hooded figures are rendered in a bold, almost mask-like manner, adding to the painting's sense of mystery and unease. The central figure's expression is one of melancholy, perhaps hinting at loss or isolation. As a fine art print, 'The Lost Felice' brings a touch of modernist drama to any interior. Its bold colours and simplified forms make it a striking focal point, while its emotional depth invites contemplation. It is particularly well-suited for spaces where one seeks to create an atmosphere of quiet intensity and intellectual curiosity.