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Mitchell stated that she painted “remembered landscapes which involve my feelings,” imbuing the colors and gestures within her works with deep emotion. In the somber-toned Chamonix, Mitchell’s memory of the idyllic French Alps is conflated with her anger and sadness over her father’s recent death and mother’s cancer diagnosis. Mitchell’s physical painting style can be seen in the multi-layered strokes, slashes, drips, and fingerprints that compose the image. Although her canvases appear spontaneous, unrestrained, and perhaps even violent, her process was actually slow, structured, and deliberate, involving careful planning and much thought.
Chamonix
Joan Mitchell (American, 1925–1992)
about 1962
Medium/Technique
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
200 x 217.2 cm (78 3/4 x 85 1/2 in.)
Credit Line
Charles H. Bayley Picture and Painting Fund
Accession Number1999.265
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsContemporary Art, Americas
ClassificationsPaintings
Mitchell stated that she painted “remembered landscapes which involve my feelings,” imbuing the colors and gestures within her works with deep emotion. In the somber-toned Chamonix, Mitchell’s memory of the idyllic French Alps is conflated with her anger and sadness over her father’s recent death and mother’s cancer diagnosis. Mitchell’s physical painting style can be seen in the multi-layered strokes, slashes, drips, and fingerprints that compose the image. Although her canvases appear spontaneous, unrestrained, and perhaps even violent, her process was actually slow, structured, and deliberate, involving careful planning and much thought.
Signed
Signed in the lower right-hand quadrant, in pencil: "J Mitchell"
Marks
Markings on stretcher bars
1. An orange printed label on the top horizontal bar: "Agence Mantine Delamare & Ciel/ 21-23 rue Lucien Sanpaix Paris 10°/ Teleph: BOL 67-49/Emballages, Transports oevre d'art"
Handwritten on this label: "Bale 35666"
2. Handwritten on a small, white circular label on the 1st vertical bar, bottom: "Lneee"
3. Handwritten in pen across the middle horizontal bar: "Chamonix Mitchell"
4. Handwritten in red pencil on the 2nd vertical bar: "Chamonix"
1. An orange printed label on the top horizontal bar: "Agence Mantine Delamare & Ciel/ 21-23 rue Lucien Sanpaix Paris 10°/ Teleph: BOL 67-49/Emballages, Transports oevre d'art"
Handwritten on this label: "Bale 35666"
2. Handwritten on a small, white circular label on the 1st vertical bar, bottom: "Lneee"
3. Handwritten in pen across the middle horizontal bar: "Chamonix Mitchell"
4. Handwritten in red pencil on the 2nd vertical bar: "Chamonix"
ProvenanceThe artist; 1968, to Private Collection, Switzerland; June 25, 1999 sold by Galerie Kornfeld, Bern, Switzerland, Auction 222, Lot 103 to MFA, Boston; purchased September 15, 1999.
CopyrightReproduced with permission.