Friedrich Widhalm Sold at Auction Prices

Friedrich Widhalm, Erotic Painting "Beautiful Odalisque", 1950s

Oil on canvas Austria, around 1950 Friedrich Widhalm (1917-?) - Austrian artist Signed lower right hand corner: "FrWidhalm" Oriental motif with subtle eroticism Dimensions, framed: 83 x 57 cm Very good condition This beautiful odalisque was painted around 1950 by the Austrian artist Friedrich Widhalm. The painting shows a topless oriental beauty leaning on a wall with the outlines of a town behind her. Widhalm has depicted her with certain attributes that distinguish her as an odalisque. She wears an array of golden necklaces around her neck, oversized hoop earrings, bracelets around her upper arm and a floral head scarf. In one hand she is holding a ceramic jug and a bunch of flowers in the other; these two attributes seem to symbolize her duty to serve, but to be beautiful in the Harem at the same time. With this painting Widhalm shows his interest in the tradition of Orientalism from the 19 th century in which the Odalisque was a popular subject, that represented an idealization of the female beauty. The painting is in very good condition. It has some minor traces of framing. The overall dimensions framed are 83 x 57 cm and the dimensions of the canvas are 78 x 52.5 cm. It is signed on the lower right hand side with "FrWidhalm". Friedrich Widhalm (1917-?) Friedrich Widhalm was born in 1917 in Vienna, Austria. He was an illustrator, a graphic artist, as well as a mosaic artist.