Untitled (Ear of Corn)

ClassificationsPaintings-oils

Artist Frank Coburn (American, 1862 - 1938)

Datelate 19th to early 20th century

MediumOil on masonite

DimensionsOverall: 6 1/2 x 10 in. (16.5 x 25.4 cm)

Credit LineGift of Mr. Bob Stillwell

Object number87.8.2

DescriptionThis is a turn of the century oil painting by Frank Coburn. Though the artist is perhaps best known for his landscapes and portraits, he did paint the occasional still life, all the same this untitled depiction of a single ear of yellow corn with two brownish shucks stands out from his oeuvre as an outlier. The painting’s donor mentioned that Coburn had been challenged to paint the corn by another artist. He created at least two paintings of corn. Aside from the subject matter the style itself is atypical for Coburn and could have been an attempt to replicate that of Alfred Montgomery. The latter artist was known for still life paintings with corn strewn as casually across barn scenes as clocks across a Dali.

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