
Portrait of the Artist's Wife
1946
A luminous and enigmatic work, Gorky renders his wife Agnes in his signature biomorphic style, where recognizable forms dissolve into fluid, dreamlike shapes that hover between figuration and abstraction. Rich, translucent layers of color bleed and merge across the canvas, reflecting the artist's deep engagement with Surrealism and his exploration of memory and the subconscious. The composition conveys an intimate emotional intensity, as the human figure becomes a vessel for raw psychological expression rather than straightforward portraiture.
- Medium
- oil on canvas mounted to Masonite
- Dimensions
- Signed
- Yes
- Spotted At
- Auction House · Phillips
Notes
Execution: Painted circa 1946–1947.
🔨 Auction Lot
Modern & Contemporary Art Day Sale, Morning Session
May 15, 2020
Estimate: $25,000 – $35,000
Sold: $88,900
Lot 14
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