Impressive Hyper-Realism Popular For the Time. Otis Kaye was a Trompe L'oeil Master using currency as a recurring theme. He enjoyed and inspired others to study and achieve similar heights especially at the beginning of his career. He is considered the last of the trompe l'oeil (French term for "trick" or "fool the eye") still life painters, recognized primarily for his skill with American currency. At that time, the early part of the 20th century, people were highly interested in this subject matter because the Federal Government was just beginning to print uniform money, replacing that which individual banks issued.
But Kaye inspired others early in his career and this original oil on canvas being offered is clearly by a devotee/student of his style and manner. The details boggle the mind and the hyper realism not only of the painted wood panel, but the currency affixed appears so tactile, one could remove them. Painting is 14 x 22" and framed to 18½ x 26½".
Estimated Value $2,000 - 3,000
Ex Abe Kosoff Collection.
Currency
