Frederick Carl Frieseke (American, 1874-1939). The Green Sash. Oil on canvas. 57-1/2 x 35 inches (146.1 x 88.9 cm). Bear...

Description

Frederick Carl Frieseke (American, 1874-1939)
The Green Sash
Oil on canvas
57-1/2 x 35 inches (146.1 x 88.9 cm)
Bears estate stamp lower right

PROVENANCE:
Sotheby's, New York, n.d. ( as attributed to John White Alexander).

Frederick Carl Frieseke's The Green Sash epitomizes his masterful ability to capture both light and the female form, central themes throughout his career. This painting relates to another work of the same title, The Green Sash (1904), which is part of the permanent collection of the Terra Foundation for American Art in Chicago. Both works reflect Frieseke's interest in intimate domestic scenes featuring women in private, contemplative moments. In this piece, Frieseke showcases his talent for depicting texture, light, and the evolving roles of women during the early 20th century.

In The Green Sash, a young woman stands with her back to the viewer, dressed in an elegant white gown adorned with layers of ruffled fabric. The striking green sash provides a vibrant contrast to the otherwise muted palette of creams and soft browns. Frieseke's attention to the play of light on the textured fabric and the figure's delicate skin demonstrates his exceptional ability to render light and color, a characteristic that places him among his Impressionist-influenced peers. However, unlike the French Impressionists, Frieseke often preferred to depict controlled, indoor environments where he could manipulate the interplay between light and shadow.

The composition of The Green Sash draws the viewer's eye to the woman's graceful figure, capturing the subtle movement suggested by her slight turn. The doorway in the background and the positioning of her body hint at a narrative-perhaps she is preparing for an occasion or caught in a fleeting moment of reflection. This sense of narrative ambiguity, combined with the rich textures of the fabric and the poised elegance of the model, reflects Frieseke's broader exploration of beauty, femininity, and the evolving image of the modern woman.

Frieseke's work was deeply influenced by James McNeill Whistler, whose emphasis on mood and tonal harmony is evident in The Green Sash. As art historian Nicholas Kilmer notes, Frieseke's interiors "convey a dreamlike quality where time seems suspended, and light itself becomes a key player in the scene." ("Frieseke's Women," Frederick Carl Frieseke: The Evolution of an American Impressionist, New York, 2001, p. 44) This work embodies that sensibility, where light and color work in harmony to elevate an everyday moment into something ethereal.

Frieseke's treatment of women in domestic interiors often walks the line between the decorative and the psychological. As scholar Sarah Burns observes, Frieseke's women "exist in a space that is both private and performative, where the viewer becomes an intimate spectator of an unfolding scene." (Inventing the Modern Woman: Interiors by American Artists 1875-1945, Berkeley, California, 2001, p. 112) Here, the viewer is drawn into a moment of elegance and grace, but the woman's turned face maintains a sense of distance, leaving her inner world intriguingly mysterious.

Frieseke masterfully balances light, color, and form to create an intimate and reflective moment in the present work. His rendering of the female figure, combined with the careful interplay of light and shadow, transforms a quiet, seemingly simple scene into an exploration of feminine grace and the subtle beauty found in everyday life.

This painting will be included in the forthcoming catalogue raisonné of Frieseke's work being complied by Nicholas Kilmer, the artist's grandson, and sponsored by Hollis Taggart Galleries, New York. According to Mr. Kilmer, although the painting bears the F.C. Frieseke Estate stamp signature, the painting was not part of the artist's estate. The estate stamp was applied in 1984 by the artist's daughter, Frances Frieseke Kilmer.


More information about Frederick Carl Frieseke. See also: Frieseke, Frederick Carl, Frieseke, Frederick C. Artist.



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