Frank Kleinholz original hand colored serigraph - 1971

Frank Kleinholz was known as "The Brooklyn Gauguin" not just because he turned to a career in art late in life but, like Gauguin, he created works of art that showed "native" New Yorkers in their natural habitat and, like children, participating in everyday life events with a sense of joy. He was born in Brooklyn in 1901 and worked hard all his life. He went to Fordham University and passed the New York bar exam. He practiced insurance law until 1945 but his interest in art began in the 30's when he started painting and making prints. His teachers were established New York artists/instructors Yasuo Kuniyoshi and Sol Wilson. His artwork can be found in the Brooklyn Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Philips Collection of Washington, DC, the Fine Arts Museum -Moscow, and the Encyclopedia Britannica Collection in Chicago. Mr. Kleinholz. died in the early 1980's.

This wonderful, colorful silkscreen print was created in 1971. It is #123 in the catalogue raisonne of Kleinholz's graphics. The print measures 19" x 17 and 1/4". This proof is somewhat unique in that (1) only 2 artist's proofs were created and (2) it is extensively (and beautifully) hand-colored by the artist. The title of the print is "Ice Cream" according to the reference catalogue. Besides the 2 artist's proofs, the edition was 125. This print is signed in pencil "Kleinholz" at the lower right and the word "Proof" is also written in pencil. The artwork is printed on Fabriano paper and was published by the Friends of Herzliah Hebrew Teachers Institute. The scene is a joyful day in the park where the children all have balloons and the ice cream cart is doing a terrific business. A great original piece for anyone who works with children or for a child's room.