Description:

Rifka Angel
(Russian/American; 1899 - 1986)
Cats
Oil and encaustic on board.
c. 1945. Signed and dated LR.

Born in Russia, Rifka Angel was schooled at home as a youngster by Jewish parents. To escape religious persecution her father fled to New York City, and she joined him in 1914. A sister and brother refused to come and later perished in the Holocaust. Her father had art talent, and sketching in his spare time, encouraged her to do the same. She also said later that "her desire to create art was born out of the turmoil of her early life and her need to find peace of mind." However, she was 25 years old before she took up art with any seriousness. Enrolling at the Art Students League of New York, she studied with Boardman Robinson and was especially inspired by other artists she met there, especially John Sloan, Ernest Fiene, Emil Ganso and Alfred Maurer. Ganso was so impressed by her painting that he recommended her to Erhard Weyhe, who selected several of her gouaches for his Weyhe Gallery.
Meanwhile, Robinson advised her to discontinue Art Students League classes and focus on her own spontaneity. In 1927, Angel returned to Russia for a two-year visit with a sister, and she studied for nine months with David Sternberg and others at the Moscow Academy of Art. During that period she was much influenced by the styles of Matisse and Cezanne. On her return home, she spent time in Paris, visiting museums and sketching.
She married Milton Douthat, a naval architect with whom in 1930, she had a daughter, Blossom Margaret. The family settled in Chicago, and Rifka Angel did many modernist style genre, self portrait and figure paintings there, especially using her daughter as a model. She was also a part of the Illinois Federal Art Project in the Easel Division. In 1930, the Knoedler Gallery of New York held a one-woman show for Angel, and this exhibition included works from Russia and Paris. The next year, Knoedler held a second exhibition, which had many paintings of the daughter Blossom. In the mid 1930s, Angel and her family moved to New York City where she continued her career, focusing on genre, figure and floral still lifes in oil, watercolor and mixed media.

15" x 16 1/2"

  • Condition: Any condition statement is given as a courtesy to the client. We are offering our professional opinion. We attempt to submit condition reports in the description. However, the absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear and tear, imperfections or the effects of aging. Antique Helper, Inc., et al shall have no responsibility for any error or omission regarding an item's condition.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Unlike most auction companies, we provide seamless shipping services with one convenient invoice and take care of all of the shipping arrangements. We do this to make the auction buying experience more pleasurable and satisfying for our valued customers.

SMALL ITEMS: We do our own packaging and use USPS, UPS, FEDEX or Pakmail to ship. We encourage customers to email or call us for shipping estimates prior to the day of the auction. After you are the successful bidder we will send you an invoice which will include your shipping charges. For your protection, full insurance is required and will be included in your charges. We strive to provide you with a professional job at a reasonable price. When your item is shipped you will be furnished with online tracking information for your package.

OVERSIZE ITEMS OR SPECIAL PACKAGING: To streamline the process for our customers, we will contact the shippers after the auction, add the shipping charges to your invoice and bill you for the entire balance due. You will then pay Antique Helper and we will arrange for pickup and delivery of your auction items with the preferred shipper below.

You can contact the shipper below for a pre-auction estimate on large items:

Pakmail: Phone: 317-841-0056 or by email: [email protected]

June 16, 2012 10:00 AM EDT
Indianapolis, IN, US

Ripley Auctions

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 23% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $49 $5
$50 $199 $10
$200 $999 $25
$1,000 $1,999 $50
$2,000 $2,999 $100
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 + $500