Untitled (Boy)

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This is an oil painting of a young boy, likely a relative or neighbor of Sommer, rendered in Sommer’s typical style. This work is similar to other Sommer portraits of children, such as Tess (1946.3 a) and June (2003.54). Previous label copy for Tess is also particularly relevant to this portrait of a boy: “Like most of his portraits of children, this image of Sommer’s young neighbor Tess Dominski is distinctive for its psychological intensity. Sommer frequently painted his sons, grandchildren and youngsters in his neighborhood, coaxing them to sit still by giving them 25 or 50 cents and keeping them amused with stories or by imitating the sounds of musical instruments.”