Featured Big Eye Era Originals

A few days ago we went to a thrift store and they had 9 Steiff Membership Bears (tiny in boxes). My wife collects Steiff and she wanted to see them. The woman takes them from the case, and my wife starts opening and inspecting them. I SWEAR if I didn't intervene we'd still be there as she tried to decide which to buy. I just bought them all. We received a lot of points for that sale. Since we buy from that chain of stores a lot we also had a get half off any one item. We needed to use that before the end of the year.

This is very large 24" x 36". My photography is awful. Below the signature it's written Paris 1966.


This is much smaller and not done by the same artist. The names are obviously different.

After the half price (the big one) and the points, these two were $9 total. That's a bargain.

I would guess if you went to Paris this is the type of art that was being sold everywhere. When I took my wife in the early 2000s (she wasn't thrilled by the city), we bought two beautiful watercolors from a street artist. We did pass an accordian player on one of the Reine bridges.

 

I really like the first one.I read the first name as Chantal G---- A better closeup photo of the name,and one of the back might help in deciphering the artist.

 

I also find the first one cool,has more of an edgy anime vibe going. Can’t really see the signature clearly. Agree that a better close-up photo is needed.

Funny enough we were just talking yesterday about how many people are ‘disappointed’ or unimpressed when visiting Paris. It obviously has much to do with the person’s inflated expectations (due to the media and all that) Anyway it was an interesting conversation leading into social behaviour and related aspects. I also read about the Paris Syndrome which can actually have physical symptoms (which was a surprise to me)

 

Wow, interesting! I'd never heard of Paris Syndrome and just did some googling.
As well as the surprising possibility of actual physical symptoms, apparently the psychological symptoms "can range from severe disappointment to acute anxiety, paranoia, hallucinations, and feelings of persecution".
I was in Paris once, at age 12. I get the "feelings of persecution" symptom... my main memory about the city is how rude the inhabitants were to tourists!

 

Very interesting and a little bizarre indeed.

 

I've been out of touch for a few days. This is the back and CUs of signatures. I don't think either is from anyone known.

They're from two different artists, given the signatures. What's interesting is they appear to be in the color paint.

They are different than all the ones I've seen doing reverse image. I actually think mine are nicer. This was just a style after Big Eyes became popular.


Little one -

Big one -

My wife was disappointed. I LOVE Paris. I think it's the most beautiful city in the world. The people are rude UNLESS you learn the pleasantries. If you say Bon Jour or Pardon, they'll speak English to you. You say Hello or Excuse me, and they don't understand a word. You should always end with Merci. Once you leave Paris, the majority don't speak a word of English. They shouldn't. They're french. If you want to work at Disneyland Paris, I think English is required. Everyone there spoke English if needed. What's funny is The Haunted Mansion (Great in Paris) was in French. It was an experience.

The French do not believe in lines. Which worked well for me, I'm great at cutting lines. If you're going to cut in front of me, I'm definitely cutting front of you, wherever you end up.

I sat outside Notre Dame twice with bottles of wine, just staring at the structure. Words can not describe how magnificent that cathedral and it's art is. The Opera House is everything I expected it to be, and more. You can see the Eifel Tower from all around the city. It's a site, and the view from the top is magnificent.

I would love to live there a year. But, only knowing the pleasantries wouldn't work after a week or two.

 

the backs don't look to have much age......... and staples used on the canvas... .

maybe they were rolled up , unframed for years........or possibly reframed more recently !???

 

The little one is sitting next to me. Those are nails, not staples. Looking closely at the other photo, I think those are nails also.

They were both in excellent condition. They were just put out for sale.

 

Ahh, ok..... small nails , hammered flat , then ? Right ?

Still........ frames look pretty clean , for 1966, .. imo.

 

They do look clean. I honestly don't know much about them, except I like them. They could be reframed and recently nailed on. Looking at the nails, they're pristine. The canvas is more like material than a thick canvas.

I doubt anyone would paint them now in that style. That was very much a 60s thing. Though they do have a 70s - 80s punk feel to their look. Why lie and put Paris 1966.

When I drop dead, my wife will bring them to a local thrift store, and someone else will get them. They'll hang in an antique store for years.

 

HEY.......... I never said the paintings were fake.........

Don't get so defensive......I'm only talking about the frames.....suggesting they are more recent than the canvas.....

and still, I could be in error .....

 

I not too long ago, watched something about how the husband of the lady who really did the big eye paintings claimed he really did them to get the money.
The smart judge asked the husband to paint the big eyes and he could not.
She won.

 

she really did them......and there's a whole story ... & a movie.

 

which , to tell the truth....don't look like the paintings above..at all.

 

I'm not defensive of art. Just laying it out. The frames are good enough.

Big Eyes. GREAT movie.

The young waifs are an off shoot of the Big Eye Artwork. I have a couple of cheap prints that they sold in the 5 & 10 back in the 60s. I paid a buck at a thrift store. There are still plenty of them around.