Fifties Friday, Part 2 - More art by David Park

About six months ago, I posted some art by David Park from the 1950s.

Today I will feature five more of his works from my small digital collection.

 

Tom

David Park painted "Portrait of Tom Jefferson" in 1957.

 

Reclining

This minimalist late 1950s drawing is simple, yet engaging.

 

Orange County

This apparently untitled David Park painting is in the Orange County Museum.

 

Duo

  

Park's "Two Figures" from 1958 depicts two rather different men.

 

Late 1950's, Part 2 - The Art of David Park

David Park (1911-1960) was a Boston born artist who moved to the Bay Area as a young man.  He worked in a style called Figurative which incorporated both abstract and realistic images in his work.  Many observers state that his work in the last few years of his life, much of it done after his fatal cancer diagnosis, was of a more realistic style, especially when human figures were involved.  Today we will see five works by David Park that differ somewhat in style, but are recognizably his.

 

Man with Stool 1959

This drawing is from the period in which David Park was more realistically portraying men's bodies, although as you will see, he still had some late abstract moments.

 

Shower 1956

This is "Standing Nude in the Shower" from 1956 and I think it is excellent.

 

Reclining

David Park's take on the classic reclining nude is somewhat edgy and anatomically realistic.

 

Duo

David Park was heterosexual with what was described as a "reasonably happy" marriage and two daughters.  He painted and drew a number of female and mixed gender nudes, but when one does a search for his works, the male nudes seem to get top billing.  This duo is undated.

 

Hefty

Closing out the David Park series with a picture of a heavyset fellow 

done near the end of Park's life in late 1959 or early 1960.