ISO: Frank King (1883 - 1969) and/or Gasoline Alley Experts

We have the following painting that appears to be at least attributed to Frank King. The girl's facial expressions certainly mirror his cartoonist work (especially the eyes and smile).

We cannot find any record of him ever working within a paint-based medium.

What do ya'll think?

The canvas peeks out from the frame at about 6.5" x 11.25" and the frame itself measures about 11.5" x 16.5" -

 

As a genealogist, I say "Frank King is a very common name."

Is there some additional provenance that connects this piece to a specific Frank King or just the printed name on the back?

 

Ha, yeah, Frank King is a common name.

This particular Frank King, of Gasoline Alley comic strip fame, had a very specific style. His work can easily be seen with a quick search, and we feel that his cartoonist facial imagery very much aligns with this painting. It all looks "right" to us -

There is no additional provenance outside of the name printed on the back of the frame and our own style attribution.

 

I have no idea if this attribution is correct but it's said to be a painting by him. Is that a sig on the bottom right of yours?

https://www.comicartfans.com/gallerypiece.asp?piece=417067

 

Maybe i'm going blind, but I don't even see a face in that painting.

 

Right there with ya.

I think it's a stretch to connect that Frank King to this painting. But as mentioned above, I can't even see a face.

 

Thank you, say_it_slowly !

The painting obviously needs a light cleaning, but we don't think that is a signature bottom right.

If we stare at the corner it seems there may be a "G" down there, but just may be our eyes playing tricks on us.

 

But I will say -- thank you for posting multiple pics and for including a pic of the back. So many people don't realize the importance.

 

Of course, no worries. Love a good mystery, and just trying to present as much info as possible to gain the most back from the forum.

Agree with you about the face being hard to decipher, but if you look at it closely, you will see it and how much of the 'character' of the facial expressions match that of Gasoline Alley faces (i.e., pencil thin eyebrows, dots for eyes, skewed mouth, etc.)

...or perhaps you will not : )

 

My very favorite part of this forum.

I find the piece (other than the face I still can't see) very painterly and would not guess it to come from the hand of an illustrator.

The piece @say_it_slowly posted? I can totally believe that attribution.

Also, my guess is that this piece is late sixties/early seventies.

 

I see a Holly Hobbie type painting maybe with a bit of DeGrazia thrown in.

 

It's there..........minimally......the flash or reflection doesn't help!! What I find interesting is the dark face and legs, but VERY light arm or arms!!!

 

SiS, I JUST HAD TO scarf your tiny 'SHRUG BUG'.......hope you don't mind!!!!

 

Having looked at this more and that hat and the dress length... maybe late seventies.

@Debora - any thoughts?

 

@Jivvy ......actually, doing this helped me see that what I thought was a white arm is actually the dress sleeve!!!! But here is her face!!

 

You can try to convince me all day long that the image is a face, but you won't succeed.

On top of that, assuming your 1969 year of death for Frank King is accurate, I seriously doubt he was still alive to create this painting.

 

Does this accurately reflect what we're calling the face?

I can sort of see it.

If this is right, I mean.

 

It's like a first communion pic.

Though that hat would not have worked in my congregation. No matter what year it was.

 

Lol, why not? I stol....uh borrowed it from somewhere too

 

Hard to date children's clothing as fashions don't change as much as women's but... If I had to guess... with skirt length + hat, 1970s.

Debora