Untitled (Surreal Narrative with Goldfish)
Painting on canvas • Jill Slaymaker (American, b. 1954)
Style & Movement
Neo-Expressionism / Post-Modern Surrealism; related to the East Village art scene of the early 1980s.
Medium & Technique
Oil and possibly mixed media on canvas; utilizes layered glazing, fine-line brushwork for textures on the leggings, and scumbled passages in the smoke/cloud-like formation.
Creation Period
1983
Dimensions & Format
Large scale, approximately 48 x 60 inches; landscape orientation.
Subject Description
A dreamlike, surrealist composition featuring two figures: one reclining woman in the foreground wearing red patterned leggings, and a second inverted, darker-toned face appearing from the upper right. A central plume of smoke or energy rises from the reclining figure's hand, manifesting into a map-like cloud containing a goldfish and floral elements. The background is a dark, indeterminate void punctuated by geometric shapes.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good/Fair; the work shows visible signs of age including surface grime and edge wear.
Estimated Market Value
$2,000 - $4,000 USD
Auction Estimate
$1,500 - $3,000 USD
Provenance History
Likely acquired directly from the artist or an East Village gallery during the mid-1980s; private collection.
Art Historical Significance
Slaymaker’s work from the early 80s captures the transition between the gritty New York street art movement and a more refined, whimsical surrealism. Her work is included in permanent collections such as MoMA and the Whitney, making this a representative piece of her formative period.
Notable Features
The use of an 'inverted' perspective for the secondary figure and the intricate, lace-like detailing on the leggings; the central 'thought bubble' or 'dream cloud' is a recurring motif in Slaymaker's early narrative works.
Condition Issues
Minor abrasions along the canvas edges and corners; possible slight yellowing of the varnish layer; localized surface scuffs in the dark pigment areas.
Conservation Recommendations
Professional surface cleaning to remove accumulated dust; restretching may be required if tension has slackened; UV-protective varnish and framing in a float frame for protection.
Collector Notes
painted 1983 by Jill Slaymaker