Sam Gilliam

Private Collection, Washington, D.C.
Acquired from the above by the present owner circa 1975

This work is in good condition overall. The canvas is unlined. The colors of the applied pigment are bright and vibrant. The canvas is slack on the strainer and there is an undulation throughout, which is particularly pronounced in the upper, center red portion of the composition where the paint is thickest. Upon close inspection, there is some light wear to the pigment along the beveled edge, and a very faint strainer bar impression on the lower edge. Upon close inspection, there is evidence of a minor water stain along the left edge, and a few scattered surface accretions. There are variations to the paint application on the surface, in part due to painting on a raw canvas, and consistent with the artist’s chosen medium and working method. Under Ultraviolet inspection, there is no evidence of restoration. Unframed.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

"Only when making the work can I determine the many languages that form the planes on which it is to exist. Like abstract phrases, the many intentions of the work pass through an intuitive sieve…The work was not planned, there are ploys, however, to the way it was laid out and then put together."

Sam Gilliam