Two Women at a Café Table Overlooking a Coastal Landscape
Painting on paper • Itzchak Tarkay (1935–2012), attributed to or in the style of.
Style & Movement
Contemporary Figurative / Post-Impressionism with influences from Fauvism and Art Nouveau.
Medium & Technique
Watercolor and pencil on paper; utilizing wet-on-dry and wet-on-wet techniques with expressive, fluid brushwork and delicate line work.
Creation Period
Late 20th century to early 21st century
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 18 x 24 inches for the sight area; vertical portrait format.
Subject Description
The composition depicts two elegantly dressed women seated at a cafe terrace. They are positioned around a small bistro table containing a bowl of fruit and a coffee cup. The background features a stylized coastal scene with blue water, rolling green hills, and small houses or huts. The iconography emphasizes themes of leisure, femininity, and social interaction.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Very Good; the paper appears flat with vibrant pigment retention and no visible foxing or water damage.
Estimated Market Value
$800 - $1,500 USD (depending on whether it is an original work or a high-quality hand-embellished serigraph).
Auction Estimate
$500 - $900 USD
Provenance History
Likely acquired from a commercial art gallery or cruise ship auction (where the artist was frequently marketed). No specific gallery labels are visible on the front.
Art Historical Significance
Tarkay was a pioneer of the early 21st-century figurative movement. His work is noted for its focus on the 'eternal feminine' and its stylistic nods to Matisse and Toulouse-Lautrec, representing the commercial peak of Mediterranean-inspired modernism.
Notable Features
Signature in the lower right corner (partially obscured/faint); distinctive usage of vibrant purples and oranges; classic Tarkay treatment of the figures' faces with almond eyes and minimalist features.
Condition Issues
Minor potential yellowing of the matting; some slight ripples in the paper consistent with watercolor application; frame shows minor age-related wear.
Conservation Recommendations
Mount using acid-free materials; protect with UV-filtering glass; avoid hanging in direct sunlight to prevent watercolor fading; ensure even humidity to prevent paper cockling.