Psychedelic Portrait with Colored Spectacles
Painting on panel (likely wood or hardboard) • Signed 'Byrne' (attribution to a specific mid-century artist requiring further genealogical research into regional American or British painters of the 1970s)
Style & Movement
Pop Art / Psychedelic Art with Elements of 1970s Counterculture Illustration
Medium & Technique
Acrylic on panel; flat color blocked technique with graphic outlining and some impasto texture in the yellow body and green foliage
Creation Period
1971 (dated by signature)
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 36 x 24 inches; vertical portrait format
Subject Description
A frontal, stylized male portrait featuring a vibrant yellow skin tone. The figure wears anaglyph-style glasses with one green and one magenta lens. Dense green fern-like foliage emerges from behind the dark head/hair area. The background is divided vertically into black and white sections, creating a high-contrast graphic effect.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good; showing signs of age consistent with a 50-year-old panel painting
Estimated Market Value
USD $800 - $1,500 (dependent on artist identification)
Auction Estimate
USD $600 - $1,200
Provenance History
Unknown; likely a private collection or estate acquisition in the United States/UK. Signature 'Byrne 71' indicates original authorship.
Art Historical Significance
A representative example of post-Pop Art influence mixed with 1970s psychedelic aesthetics. The work reflects the period's interest in optical effects (3D glasses) and the 'back to nature' movement represented by the floral integration into the figure.
Notable Features
Bold 'Byrne 71' signature in the lower right; unique split-tone background; use of anaglyph (3D) color coding as a stylistic device in the eyes.
Condition Issues
Minor surface abrasions at the edges; slight yellowing of the white pigment; minor hairline crazing in the thicker yellow acrylic applications; dust accumulation in the texture.
Conservation Recommendations
Professional surface cleaning to remove environmental grime; framed under UV-protective glass if possible; maintain in a stable climate with controlled humidity to prevent panel warping.