Larry RIVERS
Fashion & the Birds: Blue Dress
1997
Lithograph with hand coloring
Image: 21 x 24.2 inches
Sheet: 27 x 30 inches
Edition of 40
Published by Marlborough Graphics, NY
©1997 Larry Rivers
Larry Rivers was a consummate New Yorker. Born in the Bronx in 1923, Rivers initially pursued a career as a jazz saxophonist, playing New York City establishments until 1945 when he began painting. He attended New York University from 1948 to 1951, studying under William Baziotes. At this time Rivers met Willem de Kooning, Jackson Pollock and other Abstract Expressionists whose active style of painting would prove to be River's first major influence.
While River's oeuvre can be considered Abstract for the
most part, he also interspersed figurative works throughout his career.
Many such works featured playing cards, French currency, family members
and even himself. Rivers maintained that Courbet and David were some of
his bigger influences when it came to his figurative work.
Few artists of the 20th century rival River's versatility, as evidenced
by his ability to work in different genres. Throughout his career, Rivers
created historical figurative works such as Washington Crossing the Delaware,
1953, completely abstract works like The Accident, 1957, and even paintings
like The King of Hearts, 1964 and French Money, 1965 that exhibit obvious
Pop Art qualities.