Untitled (Head of J.Y.M. or Head of Gerda Boehm - Variant)
Painting on support • In the manner of Frank Auerbach
Style & Movement
School of London / Post-War Neo-Expressionist / Figurative Abstraction
Medium & Technique
Heavy impasto oil on canvas or board, applied with brushes and palette knives to create a sculptural, three-dimensional surface.
Creation Period
Mid to late 20th Century (circa 1960-1980)
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 40 x 30 cm; Portrait orientation
Subject Description
A highly abstracted, gestural portrait of a human head. The composition relies on thick, encrusted layers of paint where features are suggested by dark, bold skeletal strokes against a dominant yellow/ochre ground, with a reddish-pink base at the lower edge representing the shoulders or torso.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Good; The heavy impasto is prone to structural instability, specifically cracking and potential flaking due to the extreme thickness of the oil layers.
Estimated Market Value
$2,000 - $5,000 (as a follower); if authenticated as an original Auerbach, value would exceed $500,000 - $1,500,000.
Auction Estimate
$1,500 - $3,000 (without firm attribution)
Provenance History
Unknown; requires physical inspection of the verso (back) for gallery labels such as Marlborough Fine Art or stamps to confirm authenticity.
Art Historical Significance
The work reflects the intense, repetitive process of scraping down and reapplying paint characteristic of the School of London, emphasizing the tactile reality of the subject over traditional likeness.
Notable Features
Extreme topographical surface texture; characteristic School of London palette; use of 'drawn' lines within wet-in-wet paint layers to define facial anatomy.
Condition Issues
Visible surface cracking (craquelure) in the thicker yellow passages; dust accumulation in the crevices of the impasto; potential brittleness of the paint film due to natural oxidation of heavy oil application.
Conservation Recommendations
Should be kept in a climate-controlled environment with stable humidity to prevent the thick paint from separating from the support. Professional cleaning to remove dust from deep ridges is advised.