Eye, eye, eye we can't look away! As we work our way through organizing and cataloging the Pantages Portfolio collection, we often come across works that are simply mesmerizing and hold our gaze - sometimes for good reasons, and sometimes for bad ones.
This charcoal and ink on fabric is a perfect example of that. At first, I really did not like this piece, but Judy did. So what exactly is going on here in the piece? Only the artist knew for sure. But, the more we studied it, the more it grew on us, and both of us just can't get enough of it.
Judy sums it up best when she describes this piece as "subtle and strong at the same time." It is by American painter, printmaker, and architect Benton Spruance (1904–1967) who is best known for portraits as well as works with religious or mythological themes. In March, 2018 Swann Auction Galleries sold Spruance's Riders of the Apocalypse for $27,500; it was estimated at $20,000-30,000.
