Featured HOMERUN?! HELP w/SIGNATURE ON OLD BLACK AMERICANA? FOLK ART? PAINTING

Oh sorry, do you see the word?

 

He made 2 Ws that just touch & the A by putting the cross bar between them. It will eventually have to come out of the frame to compare the er. The dot after looks like part of it too. I'm still comfortable with their being by the same hand; only forgeries are exactly alike.

 

I see the word that I think says "paint" but no other word.

 

I saw paint too

 

This is a chromolithograph applied to boarboard 100 percent. The white spots are proof.

 

The board appears to be masonite which was developed circa 1925. I believe this is a chromolithograph laid down on masonite. If it was painted during the time of the artists life it would have been on wood board or canvas. Another tell tale sign is the muddy appearance of the signature. Coupled with the blaring white spots throughout the surface Iam pretty sure Iam correct. White spots are a tell tale sign the image is on paper. Chromolithographs look like paintings and are often over painted with actual paint to fool someone.

 

I went back and watched this AR episode talking about one of his paintings. Then I pulled a few screen shots to try to compare. That one also had white scratches, the brush strokes look similar to my untrained eye. Apparently he was very prolific. Anyway here is about the best I can do with a screen shot if it helps.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/se...william-aiken-walker-oil-painting--200704A31/

 

Walker worked on Academy Board. That is not in question. This has been seen, in person, by multiple antique dealers who declared it "a painting."

With the number of factory paintings that get presented to this forum, I do not know why people are so determined to disprove this piece.

 

I know the folks here on Antiquers are good, but it is impossible for us to authenticate (or dismiss) an object like this based on photographs alone, when none of us has experience with a real example of Walker's work. You need to find someone with the appropriate expertise to actually handle and examine the painting, particularly with something of this potential value. I believe you said earlier that Christie's requested photos? Did you send them some? My experience with the big auction houses is that they usually don't respond at all. If they asked for photos, they have a reason to be interested.

As for the white scratches, it does not automatically mean it is on paper. As I suggested before, it could be the ground layer usually applied to prepare a painting surface on board (or canvas). As demonstrated by the ARS example, such white scratches are consistent with this particular artists's work.

Artists' academy boards and millboards of various types became available in the 19th century. We cannot say if this board is masonite or another type of artists' board without having it in hand. The frame and backing materials also appear consistent with the 19th century.

The writing on the back of the panel may be the original price for the painting, rather than materials - $12.50, marked down to $10.00. What you see as "paint" may instead say "pair" - $20.00, marked down to $18.00 for 2. This would be consistent with a (prolific) working artist trying to move product.

http://www.findartinfo.com/english/list-prices-by-artist/1/4155/william-aiken-walker/page/1.html
provides auction records for 300 Walker paintings sold. It might be instructive to pay the (modest) fee for one day's access to look at the photographs of all of the paintings sold. If your particular image does not appear, it is more likely that it is an unknown painting and not one that would have been reproduced.

 

I've nothing to offer about the painting itself, but I see the word pair, not paint, and agree with 2manybooks' price markdown hypothesis.

 

I think it's an EXCELLENT hypothesis. And excellent message in general.

 

Great resource. Thanks for posting it.

 

Me too.
Thank you. I'm grateful for the help/info.

 

@journeymagazine, you've been offered a ton of information here!!! Heed it well, and PLEASE don't be in a rush to sell!!!! Get your 'due diligence done first! THAT's what will pay off for you.....no regrets.....EITHER way you will know you did all you could for the painting!!!!

 

Hi Leof. Sorry, but I am just not seeing a lithograph.

 

Hi Leof, If you look at the first picture that Jm posted with the back removed, where is the masonite? I see Academy board, card of some sort and a wooden/board panel. I think these are all appropriate to the frame and the suggested period.

I love a good painting mystery. And also, welcome to this interesting and informative forum. There is so much we all learn.

 

I looked at it CLOSELY with a magnifying glass & the strokes end at the end of a dress or roof or whatever the object is. And the auction house guy said it was a painting so ... but am probably going to go back & let him see it out of frame

 

White spots to surface scream chromolithograph. Signature is muddy almost faded. There is no crispness to this work. Ill bet its not a painting.

 

Welcome to the Forum, Leof!

 

Leof, Can you please post a photo of a well-documented chromolithograph that illustrates your point?