Mid-Century Fairy Tale Children's Book Illustration , Girl in a Boat Signed

For those over 60, it's likely that Alice and Martin Provensen influenced your childhood. We all read the classic Golden Books with Fuzzy Kittens or darling Ducklings, but there was more Provensen influence. They illustrated Tony the Tiger on a box of Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes, as well as many other ads for consumer products, with lovable images that touched our early lives. After 50 to 70 years, this picture still holds up as being fresh. In fact, today we see ultra-contemporary artists in the so-called Fine Art market referencing the work of mid-century illustrators like the Provensens.
The present work by the husband-and-wife team is undeniably one of their most creative.
A woman wearing a blue hat is shown riding in a pink boat with a man wearing a yellow hat. The backdrop is a dreamy world of gingerbread houses, shining stars with flying doves, and swimming fish. The sky and water are black, but a big yellow sun appears to be shining, emphasizing the impression of a dual night-day fantasyland. Graphically, this is a radical landscape. The piercing light of the sun illuminates the houses and landscape, making them pop against the black sky and black water. It was painted most likely for one of the Provensens' many children's book projects. The work is reminiscent of Doris Lee and Milton Avery, but the Provensen husband-and-wife team are anything but copies of other artists. Their style is their own, and this work is one of their greatest examples. Signed lower right. Unframed. Condition: Overall, very good condition for its age. A few hairline scratches are visible, mostly on close inspection. The extreme corners of the board are slightly bent but outside of the live area