Saxophone Player in Red and Blue
Mixed media collage and painting on paper, framed under glass • Carl Crawford
Style & Movement
Contemporary figurative collage, heavily influenced by Cubism and Afro-American jazz iconography
Medium & Technique
Paper collage combined with paint, utilizing geometric fragmentation and texturing techniques to build the composition
Creation Period
Dated November 1, 2000 (11-01-00 on verso)
Dimensions & Format
Estimated 8 x 10 inches (sight size), vertical portrait format within a decorative black wooden frame
Subject Description
The artwork depicts a male jazz musician passionately playing a saxophone. The composition uses a fragmented collage technique with warm reds, browns, and rich blues. The musician wears a bright red top and blue trousers, set against a background featuring abstract geometric shapes and a brick wall element on the right.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good. The visible paper surface appears generally stable, though the surrounding mat board shows minor debris, dust, and foxing/spotting.
Estimated Market Value
$150 - $300
Auction Estimate
$100 - $200
Provenance History
Acquired directly from secondary or estate market sources, bearing the artist's signature 'Carl Crawford' and creation date '11-01-00' on the verso.
Art Historical Significance
Represents a vibrant example of contemporary vernacular jazz-themed collage art, capturing the cultural vitality of musical performance through a modernist, fragmented lens.
Notable Features
Distinctive use of mosaic-like paper cutouts to render the musician's body and instrument, along with the artist's signature and exact creation date inscribed on the verso.
Condition Issues
Minor surface dust and particulates trapped beneath the glazing; aging and discoloration of the surrounding acidic paper mat board.
Conservation Recommendations
Recommend replacing the acidic mat board with archival, acid-free matting and cleaning the interior glass to prevent further degradation of the paper elements.
Collector Notes
signed Carl Crawford with 11-01-00 on verso