Chaïm Soutine Portrait Against Red Oil on Canvas

Updated August 12, 2026

Title: Portrait Against Red Technique: Oil on canvas Measures: 8 x 7 inches (20.3 x 17.8 cm) Year: Circa early 20th century Condition: Good condition. Paint surface presents stable application with pronounced texture and vigorous, expressive brushwork throughout. Minor wear consistent with age and handling. Canvas remains structurally sound and is presented in a gilt-style decorative frame. Provenance: Private collection, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Visual Description: This intimate hand-painted portrait presents a solitary figure against a rich red background, rendered through vigorous, heavily worked brushstrokes and an earthy palette of ochre, crimson, brown, black, and cream. The deliberately irregular modeling of the face, intense gaze, and expressive treatment of the sitter create a strong sense of psychological presence. Thick passages of paint and energetic color contrasts reflect the emotionally charged portrait vocabulary associated with Chaïm Soutine and the School of Paris. A Soutine-style marking is visible in the lower-left area.This hand-created artwork offers collectors an opportunity to enjoy the visual language, technique, composition, and artistic characteristics associated with the named artist at a substantially more accessible price point than authenticated works by that artist, which may command significantly higher prices in the established fine-art market. Offered “in the style of” the named artist, the work should be appreciated and valued on its own merits as a hand-created piece inspired by an important artistic tradition. It provides an accessible way to acquire a visually compelling artwork reflecting the aesthetic qualities associated with a celebrated artist without the price expectations attached to an authenticated work.This artwork is uncatalogued and unauthenticated and has not been authenticated or approved by the named artist, their estate, foundation, catalogue raisonné committee, or other recognized authority. It is offered “in the style of” the named artist, a cataloging opinion describing stylistic characteristics and not a representation of authorship or authenticity. Any provenance reflects information accompanying the artwork when received and is not a certificate of authenticity. Any signature, inscription, stamp, date, or other marking should not be considered authentication. ESTIMATED VALUE: Any estimate represents the auction house’s good-faith opinion of the potential secondary-market value of the property based on factors such as medium, size, condition, subject, provenance information, visual characteristics, and comparable uncatalogued and unauthenticated works. Estimates are not based on the value of authenticated works by the named artist and are not appraisals, guarantees of value, or predictions of the final selling price.

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