James Rizzi (1950-2011) - The Blue Boy + Sleeping Gypsy + Albrecht Dürers Self Portrait + Whistler's Mother

These four works (I offer them only as a series) form a special category in James Rizzi's oeuvre (1950-2011). He is known for his pop-art scenes (primarily inspired by New York) with laughing little figures, sun, moon, laughing little figures, buildings with faces and birds. His three-dimensional works are also famous. These four works are two-dimensional, unnumbered and unsigned. However, the title of the works is written in the plate by Rizzi. They are four proofs (hors commerce) and as such not issued; they are often tests or studies for 3D works.

In the so-called Künstlerserie, Rizzi deviates somewhat: he made a wholly own, humorous interpretation of famous artworks. It shows the artist's versatility,

- The Blue Boy is inspired by the eponymous work by Thomas Gainsborough. The originally stately and somewhat somber young man gets a cheerful makeover. This image is 18 x 26 cm and printed on BFK Rives paper France (watermark present). The paper is slightly folded in the upper right corner (about 1 cm), but not in the image itself.
- Sleeping Gypsy is based on La Bohemienne Endormie by Henri Rousseau (also printed on Rives with watermark). The original somber scene is transformed into a beautifully colorful tableau. This image is 24 x 16 cm.
- The self-portrait of Albrecht Dürer: speaks for itself. Also on laid paper, but without watermark. The originally stern self-portrait brightens up with a Ban-the-Bomb chain, lots of color and characteristic Rizzi ornaments (birds, colorful frame, moon, stars). The image is 20 x 26 cm.
- Whistler's Mother is based on work by James McNeill Whistler. The stern mother is made cheerier by Rizzi. The image is 21 x 19 cm.