Lot 280
Robert Cottingham
American, (b. 1935)
"Art" neon sign
color offset lithograph print
Pencil signed lower right. Likely from an edition of 1000.
Biography from the Archives of askART: Robert Cottingham lives and works on an eighteenth century New England farm, but the subject matter he paints is strictly urban. Tattoo parlors, seamy bar fronts, five-and-dime stores, trashy movie marquees, or the advertising on a pancake house are all the urban symbols he utilizes to construct his complex paintings. He ferrets out the architectural details, symbols, and letter fragments of facades from the 1940s and '50s, giving us a glimpse of a true American folk art; garish, trite, yet somehow endearing.
Cottingham finds more than just the materials of a sign fascinating. "Commercial signs are amazing" he says. "Here are these elaborate, monumental structures designed solely to tell you that this is where you can buy a hamburger or a pack of cigarettes. You can see these signs as hilarious or pathetic. All that effort, all the pomposity just to sell you something and yet they are an heroic attempt by someone to leave his mark." Cottingham does not paint signs just to document them. He feels that job is best left to a photographer. "As an artist, I use the configurations of a sign as the basis for constructing a painting. They are my excuse to make a painting. The end result for me is a composite of line, form, and color that also happens to depict a sign. If the final work can be read on both levels as a formal painting, taut and succinct, and at the same time as a depiction of a sign, I feel the work approaches success.." Robert Cottingham deals with the city, and his subjects are the signs and storefronts themselves. His works are a celebration of signs as elements of persuasion, which often border on satire, or hyperbole, and have a bravado and charm that link the urban scene and man directly. His art is concerned with the vitality and variety of contemporary American life without reference to the nostalgia of a bygone era.
Cottingham is generally referred to as a "photorealist." The term, in use for about thirty years, refers to work that has a clarity and "truth-to-the-eye" that is associated with photography. It is misleading to think that photorealism is an attempt to replicate photography in paint. Nor is it accurate to assume that the success of a work relies on a technique that is dependent upon the projection of a photograph or transparency onto canvas or paper.
The role of photography and the process that leads to the final, large painting was detailed by the artist in a statement written in 1982. He begins by filming streets in various cities, using both 35 mm and 2 1/4 inch transparency film. After selecting an image that interests him, the next step is a series of pencil drawings of the entire vista of the street scene. In these works he separates "the essential from the extraneous" and analyses compositional possibilities and the relationships of light and dark values
In the third step, which may overlap the first, Cottingham makes ink, acrylic, watercolor and gouache drawings. In the ink drawings he investigates the abstract patterns within the composition. In this process, Cottingham frequently abandons the literal rendering of texture, creating through shading and loose brushstroke works with a lyrical quality distinct from the precision of the painting.
If he is pleased with the results of these studies, and the work appears suitable for an increase in scale, Cottingham lays out a grid on a wall to visualize its effectiveness. This is an important step since the scale involves judgments in the success of enlarging various images, and on the relationship of the final painting's size to human scale.
With respect to content, Cottingham strives to create work that has an inherent drama and humor, a straightforward message about the city and commerce, and a strong sense of American language.
Cottingham's intent is to involve the viewer directly. In earlier paintings from the 1970s, he used a square format for the final painting and the related works. The perspective was often that of the viewer looking up as from a sidewalk. Because the signs in the paintings were elevated for more effective distance viewing, the viewer became a detached, casual observer.
For Cottingham signs are communication. They are objects rich in language, ideas and ingenuity. In the context of storefronts, the images become metaphors for the activities and choices in our daily lives. Through his works we see a reflection of ourselves and the world we have built around us.
- Dimensions: 22 1/4" x 22 14"
- Medium: color offset lithograph print
Accepted Forms of Payment:
ACH, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer
Shipping
SHIPPING: Large or fragile items will require a third party shipper. Items that require third party or local pickup are indicated within the lot description. If we cannot ship your item, email [email protected] for a list of recommended shippers. Buyer is responsible for obtaining quotes and arrangement of third party shipping.
Successful bidders will receive an invoice following the auction that will include payment details. Please check your spam/junk folder if you do not receive an invoice.
After payment is made, your order will go to our shipping department if it does not require third party. Buyers will not automatically receive a shipping invoice. You will be sent a separate invoice for shipping once your initial invoice is paid and your items are packed and ready to ship. We guarantee that we will provide the highest standards in packing and handling available, in a time frame that allows attention to every detail to protect the items you have purchased.
It will ask you to verify your address before paying by credit card.
PICKUP: Items are subject to storage fees if they are not removed from premises within 10 business days. If items require third party shipping, arrangements and removal must be completed within 15 business days.
Ripley Auctions
You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.
View full terms and conditions
| From: | To: | Increments: |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $99 | $10 |
| $100 | $199 | $20 |
| $200 | $499 | $25 |
| $500 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $2,999 | $100 |
| $3,000 | $4,999 | $200 |
| $5,000 | $9,999 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $29,999 | $1,000 |
| $30,000 + | $2,500 |