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Arshile Gorky — Portrait of the Artist's Wife
Arshile Gorky

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

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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About this work

Arshile Gorky, 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
78.1 x 57.2 cm
Year
1946
Signed
Hand-signed by the artist
Seen at
Phillips, New York, London, Hong Kong

Related themes

Surrealism, 20th Century, Male Artist, American Artist, Intimate Mood, Figurative Art, Portrait, Modern Master, Warm Tones, Oil on Canvas

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