Seated Woman at a Harborside Café (often similar to themes such as 'Femme au Chapeau Noir')
Original fine art print (Lithograph or Serigraph) on heavy paper, mounted behind glass. • Itzchak Tarkay (1935–2012).
Style & Movement
Contemporary Figurative Art, heavily influenced by Fauvism (Matisse) and Post-Impressionism. Specifically, it belongs to the 'Romantic Figurative' style popular in the late 20th-century commercial art market.
Medium & Technique
Color lithography or serigraphy featuring flat planes of color, bold outlines, and textured patterning. The piece shows characteristic overlapping of pigment and saturated hues indicative of high-quality matrix printing.
Creation Period
Late 20th Century, likely circa 1980-1995.
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 30 x 24 inches (image size); Portrait orientation.
Subject Description
The composition depicts a stylized, elegant woman seated in a café setting overlooking a harbor with sailboats. She wears a cloche-style hat with polka dots and a decorative necklace. The scene is characterized by a relaxed, leisure-class atmosphere, utilizing a harlequin-patterned screen, vibrant floral elements, and a Mediterranean-inspired color palette.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Very Good. The colors appear vibrant with no obvious signs of sun-fading. The paper appears flat without rippling, and the glass is intact.
Estimated Market Value
$600 - $1,200 (assuming it is a signed, limited edition print).
Auction Estimate
$300 - $700.
Provenance History
Likely acquired from a commercial art gallery or via a cruise ship auction (such as Park West Gallery), where Tarkay’s work was widely distributed during the 1990s.
Art Historical Significance
Tarkay was a seminal figure in the modern 'social' figurative movement. His work popularized a synthesis of Parisian café culture aesthetics with a modern, Israeli-born perspective, influencing commercial art design and interior decor globally at the turn of the millennium.
Notable Features
Includes a visible signature in the lower right and 'A.P.' (Artist Proof) or edition numbering in the lower left corner. The use of the harlequin pattern and the dotted hat are signature motifs of Tarkay’s most collectible period.
Condition Issues
Minor reflections on the glass indicate it is not museum-grade anti-reflective glass. Potential for light acid burn on the edges if not matted with acid-free materials, though not visible here.
Conservation Recommendations
Ensure the artwork is kept out of direct sunlight to prevent UV fading of the pigments. Consider reframing with acid-free mounting and UV-protective acrylic or glass to ensure long-term preservation.