"Head, 1928" by Morris Kantor (1896-1974)

About this work: “Head”, 1928 by Morris Kantor (1896-1974) In a time teeming with racist imagery in American art, this work is unusual for its idyllic depiction of a young black woman. Rendered from the neck up, she floats in colorful space joined only by a single rose. Her prominent brow and simplified features remind us of African masks, while the liberal use of color is more in line with European modernism, underscoring Kantor’s desire to experiment with various styles. This work dates to the latter part of the 1920s when Kantor expanded beyond a purely cubist aesthetic and developed with his own unique modernist style. The work is oil on canvas and is signed and dated in the lower right. An additional indiscernible signature is in the lower left. Two labels relating to separate exhibitions of this work (around 1928 and 1966) can be found on the reverse. I was unable to determine which exhibitions these labels relate to. The work is housed in its original frame. Size: 25.5 inche