Can someone give me info on this painting? An old African portret

Hi all! I hope you all are in good health, and are enjoying your weekend!

This week I bought a couple of paintings at a local auction house. Amongst them , the one depicted on the photos . In was in an old frame. (I took it out to re-frame it…) The frame offers no clues, and, my guess is, not as old as the painting. I have absolutely no information on it, other then the size: 31/23cm

Obviously it is very, let’s say, fatigued… There is really not much I can read into the autograph that relates you a name. (Not for me at least…

Is there someone who can tell me something about this painting? Also about the paper, and paint itself. I have i’ve never before seen the paint ‘let go’ in this manner; even the foundational color brought on the paper is worn off on several spots. I assume it’s (very) old. I’ve tried some reverse-image searching- to no avail. So yet again I turn to the ‘Antiquers’ forum- were fellow mem has helped me a lot with previous questions/posts!

All the best and -hopefully- sunny weather, take care, Robert







All the best and -hopefully- sunny weather, take care, Robert

 

I would assume the paint media is gouache (opaque water colors). One cause of such damage might be if it was at some point framed under glass, without sufficient space between the glass and the painted surface. The paint might stick to the glass, particularly in humid conditions, and be pulled off when the picture was unframed.
Is there any evidence of moisture damage on the back of the paper?

The subject looks like a man from East Africa (Ethiopia/Kenya/Tanzania).

 

I've seen acrylic paint flay like that...on a skin drum.....but....???

 

My only thoughts would be that maybe the gouache was applied too dry to a paper that might not have been wet enough???? Gouache dries quickly (from what I understand!) and may not have had time to adhere to too dry paper??? JMHO......

 

Thank you, for your thoughts! There was no sign of moist on the frame or paper with which the painting was stuffed with. Also, what made me think it was perhaps quit old is that there is los of paint all over. I don't know if it shows well on the photo's, but first a foundational paint was applied on the paper. This has been 'wheathered'. At the top I think it could be like that it was framed before it as dry enough... I wasn't a 100% sure if it is/was gouache. Tomorrow I'm seeing a friend who is an artpainter, he will know for sure... All the best, Robert

 

Hi, I just came across your painting and post. This particular painting style looks just like two paintings that I own by an artist signed M.Calla. Mine are still under glass in their original frames though.
I hope you found out more. D.Dorgan

 

@D. Dorgan, would you be kind enough to post photographs of both works from front and back including frames?

Debora