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Norman Lewis — Enchancement
Norman Lewis

Enchancement

1952

This abstract composition presents a dynamic vertical arrangement of gestural marks and forms that rise upward from a darker base. The artist employs a restrained palette of grays, blacks, and muted earth tones, with subtle hints of red and pink punctuating the lower register. The forms appear to surge and dissolve simultaneously, creating an ambiguous tension between figuration and pure abstraction. Through controlled application and atmospheric blurring, the work evokes both architectural aspiration and organic dissolution, inviting multiple interpretations of its subject matter.

Medium
oil on canvas
Overall

Notes

Contemporary Day Auction, Sotheby's, sale on 2026-05-15.

🔨 Auction Lot

Contemporary Day Auction

May 15, 2026

Estimate: $800,000$1,200,000

For Sale

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About this work

Norman Lewis, Enchancement, 1952

This abstract composition presents a dynamic vertical arrangement of gestural marks and forms that rise upward from a darker base. The artist employs a restrained palette of grays, blacks, and muted earth tones, with subtle hints of red and pink punctuating the lower register. The forms appear to surge and dissolve simultaneously, creating an ambiguous tension between figuration and pure abstraction. Through controlled application and atmospheric blurring, the work evokes both architectural aspiration and organic dissolution, inviting multiple interpretations of its subject matter.

Medium
oil on canvas
Dimensions
overall: 99.4 x 134.3 cm
Year
1952
Seen at
Sotheby's, New York, London, Hong Kong, Paris

Related themes

Mid Century Modern, Vertical Composition, Gestural Mark Making, Architectural Forms, Movement And Energy, Atmospheric Effects, Oil On Canvas, Subtle Coloration, Abstract Expressionism, Modernist Abstraction, Monochromatic Palette, Urban Imagery

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