Daniel Brustlein (1904-1996) was known to readers of The New Yorker as the cartoonist Alain. His signature collection is Alain's Steeplechase (1957). A self-portrait of his executed in oil on paper and sold on eBay early in 2020 is signed simply Brustlein.
The self-portrait shows the aritist surrounded by his paintings. The studio floor has tiles in a checkerboard pattern. The painter leaves the forms in an unresolved blur, and we are not sure whether we have quite seen him or not.
 |
| Daniel Brustlein's signature |
The work is framed.
 |
Alain [Daniel Brustlein]
eBay listing ended February 15, 2020
|
 |
Alain [Daniel Brustlein]
eBay item descritpion |
The work sold for a best offer somewhere less than $799.99.
 |
| [End of eBay listing] |
Here, for comparison, is a photographic image of the artist. He definitely captured somthing of himself.
This is his Wikipedia portrait:
Curiously, on the back dust cover to The New Yorker Album of Drawings 1925-1975, he is referred to as "Daniel Alain," but nowhere else does this combination of name and pseudonym appear in print.
 |
The New Yorker Album of Drawings 1925-1975
Detail of rear dust jacket
|
You may wonder why I sometimes archive and hold on to eBay listings for years before proceeding to post them. I wonder as well.
05249
No comments:
Post a Comment