ECA record control number: 4148

Archives of American Art #: 61501280, 83940001, 63005912, 02960202, JUL J0046811  [digital photo archive]

Record level: Item

Record type: Movable work

Work title: Breakers

Alternate work titles:
2017: Breakers  [from auction catalog]
1985: Breakers  [from auction catalog]
1975: Breakers  [from exhibition catalog]
1919: Marine  [from exhibition catalog]

Work date: 1908  [from front of canvas.]

Work creator: Emil Carlsen [1848-1932]

Work medium: Oil on canvas
Work dimensions: 27-1/2 x 34 inches [unframed] | 28 x 34 inches [unframed] | 28 x 34-1/4 inches [unframed] | 36 x 42 inches [framed]

Inscribed/signed front:
Location: At lower right.
Dated: Yes.
Text: ‘Emil. Carlsen. 1908-‘.

Verso: unknown

ECA category: Waterscape
ECA sub-category: Surf

Archives of American Art subjects:
Waterscape
Waterscape — Sea

Description of work:

“A picture of the power of nature, Breakers was created around the time Carlsen began transitioning from painting still-life scenes to marine landscapes. At the turn of the 20th century, Carlsen’s seascapes were characterized by a subdued light, a refinement, and a certain serenity that was potentially rooted in Carlsen’s Danish heritage and a childhood spent near the sea. There is no sense of danger here, no threatening seas, only the sumptuous curls of the waves and splash against the notoriously rocky coast—likely the Manan coast of Maine, where Carlsen was known to paint. For a “down East” coastal scene the mood of the picture is decidedly understated and composed as with many of Carlsen’s still lifes. In fact, Carlsen, proficient in the art of creating color and texture to create a mood, appears here to blend the water, the sky, and the light into one complimentary lyrical vision. Nature has seemingly been captured and encapsulated for one brief moment. Breakers may potentially be compared to works by John Frederick Kensett or Thomas Cole in their mutual depiction of nature as a spiritual, almost mystical force. ”

Citation: “Emil Carlsen > breakers, 1908”,  Taylor | Graham website.  Updated [unknown].  Accessed December 14, 2020.  https://www.taylorandgraham.com/artists/67-soren-emil-carlsen/works/9441-soren-emil-carlsen-breakers-1908

Provenance/ownership:
after 2017  ( Taylor | Graham [2013- ], 32 East 67th St, New York, NY 10065 ) ;
2017 ( Sotheby’s [1744- ], 1334 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021 ) ;
1985 Private collection of [unknown], New York, NY ;
1985 ( Sotheby’s [1744- ], 1334 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021 ) ;
1976 ( Los Angeles County Museum of Art [1910- ], 5905 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036 ) ;
before 1953 Private collection of Will Richeson, Jr. [1924-2002] & Mary Richeson [1927?-?], Jr., San Marino, CA | Glendale, CA ;
1919 ( Macbeth Gallery, The [1892-1953], [1935-1953] 11 East Fifty-seventh Street | [1924-1934] 15 East Fifty-seventh Street | [1906-1923] 450 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY | [1892-1905] 237 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY ) ;
ca.1911 Private collection of Robert J. Handley [1881-1965], New York, NY ;
ca.1910 ( Macbeth Gallery, The [1892-1953], [1935-1953] 11 East Fifty-seventh Street | [1924-1934] 15 East Fifty-seventh Street | [1906-1923] 450 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY | [1892-1905] 237 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY ) ;
ca.1910 Emil Carlsen [1848-1932], the artist ;  [most likely returned to the artist when he got new gallery representation]
1908 ( Folsom Galleries [1908-1921] | Bauer-Folsom Galleries [1908-1909], 396 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 11215 ) ;  [probably]
1908 Emil Carlsen [1848-1932], the artist .

Exhibition history:
2017 Sotheby’s, New York, NY, “Sale”, October 6.
1985 Sotheby’s, New York, NY, “Sale #5407”, December 5.
1975 Wortsman Rowe Galleries, San Francisco, CA, “The art of Emil Carlsen 1853-1932“, January 10-February 21; Rubicon Gallery, Los Altos, CA, January 17-February 28; The El Paso Museum of Art, El Paso, TX, March 2-March 30; Robert Rice Gallery, Houston, TX, April 10-May; Coe Kerr Gallery, New York, NY, June-July; The Fine Arts Gallery of San Diego, San Diego, CA, August 20-October 10; The Norton Gallery of Art, West Palm Beach, FL, November-December.
1919 Macbeth Gallery, New York, NY, “Loan Exhibition of Paintings by Emil Carlsen from the collection of Mr. Robert J. Handley, Esq. of New York“, December.
1911 Macbeth Galleries, New York, NY, “A Group of Thirty Selected Paintings“, February 2-15, as Midsummer storm.  [needs further cross reference and confirmation]
1908 Bauer-Folsom Galleries, New York, NY, “Paintings by Emil Carlsen and Sculpture by Clara Hill“, March 6 – April 10.  [needs further cross reference and confirmation]

References/citations:
– Sotheby’s, New York, NY, sale catalog, “Sale”, October 6, 2017, lot #63, illustrated: color on page 47.
– Sotheby’s, New York, NY, sale catalog, “Sale #5407”, December 5, 1985, lot #134, illustrated: b&w.
– Rubicon-Wortsman Pub., San Francisco, CA, exhibition catalog, “The art of Emil Carlsen 1853-1932″, 1975, #4.
– Macbeth Gallery, New York, NY, “Loan exhibition of paintings by Emil Carlsen from the collection of Mr. Robert J. Handley, Esq. of New York“, December, 1919. #15, illustrated: b&w.
– Peter A. Juley & Son Collection, Archives and Special Collections, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC, Image #JUL J0046811.

Related works:
– Surf, 1907.

ECA notes:
– Oil on canvas, canvas is not lined. Surface: In generally good condition aside from an overall network of craquelure. UNDER UV: No apparent inpainting. Work presents nicely and is ready to hang.

Price history:
2017 – $35,000 USD  [auction]
1985 – [unknown]  [auction]

Document information

Document permalink:
http://emilcarlsen.org/work/?p=4148

Digital-born document number:
ECA.2014.4148

Digital document provenance:
Original compiled and researched document by the Emil Carlsen Archives, 266 West 21st Street, Suite 4E, New York, NY 10011.

Document license:
Creative Commons Corporation  shareAlike (sa) license.  Some of the information contained within this document may hold further publication restrictions depending on final use.  It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine.

Image license:
The author of this artwork died more than 70 years ago. According to U.S. Copyright Law, copyright expires 70 years after the author’s death. In other countries, legislation may differ.

Record birth date:
August 31, 2014

Last updated: December 14, 2020 at 19:00 pm