Maurice Molarsky (1885–1950)

MAURICE MOLARSKY (1885–1950)
Reflections, 1914
Oil on canvas, 54 x 42 in.
Signed and dated (at lower left): M. Molarsky 1914

RECORDED: “Molarsky in Retrospect,” Art in Focus (Summer 1958), clipping in Hirschl & Adler archives

EXHIBITED: Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., 1914, Fifth Biennial Exhibition of Contemporary Art, no. 1 // San Francisco, California, 1915, Panama-Pacific International Exposition, no. 3235, awarded silver medal // National Academy of Design, New York, 1916–17, Winter Exhibition, no. 176 illus., as “Girl in White” // City Art Museum of Saint Louis, Missouri, 1917, 12th Annual Exhibition, no. 146 // Chicago Art Institute, 1917, 30th Annual Exhibition, no. 138 // Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, 1919, 114th Annual Exhibition, no. 303 // Windsor Hall Galleries, Philadelphia, 1958, Maurice Molarsky, no cat.

EX COLL.: [Windsor Hall Gallery, Philadelphia, 1965]; to private collection, until 2002

In Reflections, Molarsky has artfully posed the woman at her vanity so that her reflection in the mirror is also visible. The picture follows in the general style of Molarsky’s portraits of women, which usually feature elegantly dressed figures in clever and alluring poses, set within genteel interiors. The subject of the painting is almost certainly Molarsky’s wife, Tina, who often posed for him. Comparisons to a photograph of Mrs. Molarsky are convincing enough to make this attribution.