48 × 36 in
 in
 cm
Price: $54,000 USD
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$78,000
plus shipping & taxes
In this image, Vivien with Hat, Alex Katz presents the viewer with a deceptively simple portrait of a woman, rendered in profile, wearing a large, wide-brimmed sun hat that hides her eyes. A flat blue background maintains focus on the stylishly attired subject, whose bold red lips add colour and some slight insight into her personality. In line with Katz’s common minimalist approach, Vivien with Hat features clean lines and simple forms, but the artist’s gentle hand somehow enhances, rather than detracts from, the character’s presence. A tilted shoulder, a glimpse of a stylish white top, and a slight smile all ensure the woman evocatively resonates with the viewer.
Pencil signed and numbered.
| Medium | Prints |
| Signature | Signed |
| Frame | Unframed |
| Condition | Excellent |
| Seller | Professional |
| Location | USA |
| Provenance | Private Collection, USA |
Alex Katz is an American painter known for his distinctive portraits and landscapes. Throughout his career, he has deliberately avoided the dominant non-figurative styles of his early years. Based in New York City since the 1950s, Katz spends his summers in Maine, a region that has inspired many of his renowned landscape paintings. His portraits, on the other hand, depict people from his personal and professional life, including colleagues, family, friends, and neighbours.
Katz’s portraits are instantly recognisable, defined by their characteristic flatness and simplicity. Shadows and light are represented with subtle variations in colour, while monochrome backgrounds frequently frame his subjects, further reinforcing his unique style. The lack of intricate detail and sharp lines creates a visual language that is both minimalist and striking.
These portraits are not intended to convey a clear narrative or personal story. Katz focuses instead on celebrating the beauty of his subjects, often highlighting fashion details and using soft, harmonious colours. The warmth of his works emerges from this combination, tempering their flatness and lack of detail to create paintings that are both elegant and inviting.
Katz has achieved widespread acclaim, influencing younger figurative artists such as Elizabeth Peyton and Julian Opie. Although his work predates the Pop Art movement, its engagement with mid-century culture, including television and advertising, draws comparisons to Pop Art aesthetics.
One of Katz’s greatest stylistic influences is the Japanese woodblock artist Kitagawa Utamaro (1753–1806), a master of the Ukiyo-e tradition. Known for capturing everyday scenes and portraits of beautiful women, Utamaro’s work is characterised by its flat, two-dimensional quality, partial views, and emphasis on light and shade. Katz’s use of these elements reflects Utamaro’s influence, adapting them into his own modern aesthetic.
Alex Katz’s art is featured in over 100 public collections worldwide. Following significant retrospectives at the Whitney Museum of American Art in 1986 and the Brooklyn Museum of Art in 1988, Katz’s work has been showcased in major exhibitions across the United States and Europe. He continues to spend his summers in Lincolnville, Maine, where the natural landscape remains a central source of inspiration for his art.
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