Joan Mitchell

Xavier Fourcade, Inc., New York
Robert Miller Gallery, New York
Laura Carpenter Fine Art, Santa Fe
Acquired by the present owner from the above in 1995

New York, Xavier Fourcade, Inc., Joan Mitchell: New Paintings, April - May 1986, p. 6, illustrated

Michel Waldberg, ed., Joan Mitchell, Turin, 1992, p. 191, illustrated in color

This work is in very good condition overall. There is evidence of craquelure to certain areas of the surface, though there does not appear to be any paint lifting or loss. There is also evidence of light wear, handling, and craquelure to the edges of the canvas. Under ultraviolet light inspection, there is no evidence of restoration. Framed.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
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Joan Mitchell’s Between serves as an iconic example of the artist’s visual vocabulary of color, line, and form. The bold, vibrant and dynamic work exudes a gestural rhythm that fuses timeless qualities and expressive style. Layers of blue, purple, orange and green intertwining brushstrokes sprinkled with patches of white create a dense composition in bursts of physical energy and tactility. Mitchell’s swift, vigorous and thick mark-making technique culminates in a luminous and buoyant image. Known for compositions of imagined landscapes and feelings evoked by nature, Mitchell expressed her intense emotions and memories through similarly intense gestures.

Mitchell moved to New York in 1950 after spending a year in France where her paintings first moved towards abstraction. She moved to Paris in 1959, and several years later, in 1968, moved to Vétheuil, a city outside of Paris where she lived for the remainder of her life. The beautiful French countryside became a significant source of inspiration for Mitchell and her paintings reflect observations of her natural surroundings. Like many of the Impressionists and Post-Impressionists, Mitchell was fascinated by the lush landscape of Vétheuil, which featured prominently in her late paintings. These works, dating from 1985 to 1992, are replete with bright colors, energy and excitement, combining Mitchell’s admiration of the work of Van Gogh and Monet, her interest in nature and her adept skill at expressing emotions and memories. In fact, the palette and dynamism and subject matter of Between evokes Van Gogh’s Irises (1889), the bright blue flowers dancing in a sunny field.

Between also represents a transition in the artist’s personal life. Between 1984 and 1986, Mitchell was hospitalized numerous times due to her long battle with cancer, which ultimately took her life in 1992. The title of this painting refers to the precious periods in between hospital stays when she was able to paint. Despite her health struggles and the loss of close family and friends, Mitchell continued to produce dynamic paintings of the emotional and physical recollections of the countryside she loved.