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Exceptional encaustic painting by Russian-born artist, Rifka Angel (1899-1988) depicting a giant, old woman towering over New York City (likely Angel in her old age – she lived in New York and Chicago on and off since the age of 15 when she immigrated to the US).
‘Encaustic’ refers to paint blended with beeswax and pigment. Despite late recognition of the medium, it has been around since the early 20th century, most notably used in Diego Rivera’s works. Rifka Angel emerged as one of the first artists in the US in the 1930s to use a true encaustic technique mixing beeswax with pigment in muffin tins and fusing (a process her naval architect husband, Milton Warren Douthat, helped develop).
Wonderful contrast with this piece — the idea of a giant figure towering over trees and buildings in Manhattan is menacing. However, the subject, an elderly, bespectacled woman in a floral dress gripping a book of poetry and parasol, is benevolent.
Colorful, floral motifs throughout (a signature characteristic of Angel’s works) along with charming architectural and automotive (taxi cab) details identifying the setting as New York City.
Signed “Rifka Angel ’71” in the lower right corner, and signed / illegibly titled on verso.
Exhibitions:
No-Jury Society of Artists, Chicago, 1922-29
A Century of Progress Exhibition of Paintings & Sculpture, AIC, 1933, 34
Annual Exhibition of Works by Chicago and Vicinity Artists, AIC, 1933
The Ten, Marshall Field Gallery, Chicago, 1930
16 Cities, Museum of Modern Art, NYC
Findlay Galleries, NYC, 1937-38
New York World’s Fair
Solo, Knoedler Galleries, Chicago, 1930
‘Rifka Telling a Story’ (1939) is part of the Smithsonian’s permanent collection

Awards:
Chicago Woman’s Club Prize, Annual Exhibition of Works by Chicago and Vicinity Artists, AIC, 1933
Chicago Society of Artists Silver Medal, Annual Exhibition of Works by Chicago and Vicinity Artists, AIC 1934.

H 32″ x W 26″ x D 1.75″