Calvin Waller Burnett (1921–2007) - Untitled (Two Nudes)

Calvin Waller Burnett (1921–2007): Untitled (Two Nudes)
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Oil on canvas.
Signed
Undated (approx. 1960)
Rear gallery inventory number
Image size: 62 x 91 cm
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Austrian private collection, Salzburg.
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Calvin Burnett was a prominent painter, illustrator, graphic artist, and art educator from Massachusetts. He studied at the Massachusetts School of Art and Boston University and taught for over 30 years as a professor. Burnett is considered a mainstay of African American modernism. His works are represented in renowned institutions such as the Smithsonian American Art Museum and were recently (2026) honored in major retrospectives such as at the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) Boston.
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The offered work is a piece from Burnett’s highly sought-after art-historical “Nudes” or figure studies series, which he mostly produced in the mid-20th century (approximately the 1950s to 1970s). Burnett repeatedly painted intimate, introspective compositions of two or three female nudes in this unmistakable sgraffito style (often under titles like “Two Nudes,” “Kneeling Nudes,” or “Consoling Nudes”). The small vessel in the background is a typical minimalist still-life element he used for spatial division.
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While prints by the artist are in the three-figure range, his original paintings regularly fetch prices between $1,000 and $4,500 at specialized art auctions (such as Swann Auction Galleries or Black Art Auction). Since depictions of two figures (Two Nudes) are among his most sought-after motifs and the painting appears well preserved, the estimated market value is approximately €1,500 to €3,500, as it is oil on canvas.
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Condition: Very good, with no defects or damages (see photos).
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The well-preserved frame is not part of the offering, but is included as a free add-on.
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Shipping is via insured parcel in a durable, secure packing.