Elsie Palmer Payne - A View of Old Chinatown 16" x 14"

Elsie Palmer Payne (1884-1971)
A View of Old Chinatown, n.d.

Gouache on paper
Paper: 16” x 14”
Frame: 26” x 24”

Signed Lower Right: ELSIE PALMER PAYNE

Soft pastels cleverly mix with bold blues and greens, creating a vibrant view of old Chinatown that feels youthful and energetic. The bright, almost unnatural color palette is a unique approach to landscape painting, as it pushes reality into a dream-like state. The figures—many of which are children—appear cartoonish and paper doll-like. There is an innocent and idealistic feel to this painting, almost like the viewer is seeing through the eyes of a child. 

Provenance:
Private Collection, Bakersfield.
Bonhams California, Coast to Coast: American Art, including the Collection of Gail Feingarten Oppenheimer, February 7, 2023, Lot 96
Private Collection, Utah