Leon Golub (American, 1922-2004). Abstract painting on board. Marked "E" in pencil along the lower left. Signed and marked "DIV. 5" in pencil along the lower right.

This abstract painting is a fine example of Golub’s early work. While he was not yet working in his signature figurative style, many elements that would come to define the works of his later career are present. The painting is worked in many layers: the many colored brushstrokes that make up the background overlap and cross, the slightly sheer swaths of pigments building up to create a mottled background. This colorful melange is in turn overlaid with bright cyan lines in sharp, curling shapes. This layering is a clear successor to the highly layered, textured works that became Golub’s quintessential style, and the jagged, bold shapes show a clear indication of the violent, vigorous style of his later work.
Sight; height: 15 in x width: 18 1/2 in. Matted; height: 18 in x width: 22 in. The colors are dark and deep. There are no visible tears, creases, or losses. The board is toned, in particular along the upper right and lower left corner. There is soiling throughout the margins of the board. There is staining, possible from moisture exposure along the edge of the lower margin. There are no signs of restoration under UV light. There is wear along the edges of the board.