Mid-Century Portrait of a Young Girl by Pascal Cucaro, 1915-2003

A gentle mid-century portrait of a young girl by Pascal “Pablo” Cucaro (American, 1915-2004). Sealed in a layer of clear resin. Signed in a black textured medium, lower left: “cucaro.” Presented in a rustic silver gilt frame with black velvet liner. Image, 8″H x 10″W.

Pascal Cucaro was an American painter born on November 6, 1915 in Youngstown, Ohio. He became interested in art during his time in the U.S. Army. After leaving the armed forces, Cucaro moved to San Francisco to study at the California School of Fine Arts from 1948 to 1952. His association with the local counter culture led him to the circles of Beat-era artists, writers, and philosophers. In 1965, his paintings would garner him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He was later touted by San Francisco’s Chamber of Commerce, for “enhancing the prestige of San Francisco and the Bay Area as a major world culture center through his creative energy and work.” When asked which artists inspired him, Cucaro said: “Lou Gibney and Matt Barnes, the former painted at night since he worked during the day; the latter, an Irishman, used fluorescent paints that glowed in the dark. There was another artist Devencorn with whom I went to art school; he did abstracts of street scenes, long and narrow. These were contemporary artists. Historically, I was most influenced by the Impressionists- Toulouse-Lautrec, especially his use of line; Monet; Manet; Van Gough. I’d say, though, that there was no influence for color. I did that on my own. Maybe to some extent Matisse and Picasso but never had a chance to meet them.”