Womblegrinch's Box of Inspiration

On Saturdays I have a bookstall in Hackney, London, where I sell art auction catalogues. I have thousands and, therefore, hundreds of thousands of images of artworks that are often only found in the catalogues. I plan to share some of them to introduce you to art and artists that you may not be familiar with. Don't forget to look in the archive - there are over 3000 paintings to peruse. P.S. the books are only £1.00 each or less. Come on down to Netil Market, I'm there to be exploited - but, alas, not at the moment while the market is closed!

[womblegrinch]

Otto Modersohn (1865-1943) - Bäuerin am Wümmewehr

Oil on cardboard. Painted in 1908.

22.25 x 29.1 inches, 56.5 x 74 cm. Estimate: CHF 8,000-12,000.

To be sold Koller, Zurich, 26 June 2026.

The Wümme is a river in northern Germany.

[womblegrinch]

Clara Porges (1879-1963) - Cavlocciosee mit Pizzi dei Rossi

Watercolour on paper. 29.1 x 21.7 inches, 74 x 55 cm.

Estimate: CHF 8,000-12,000.

To be sold Koller, Zurich, 26 June 2026.

Lägh da Cavloc (also Cavlocciosee or Lago di Cavloccio) is a lake near Maloja Pass in the Val Forno, Grisons, Switzerland. The Pizzi dei Rossi, in the background, rises to just over 3,000 metres.

[womblegrinch]

Julien Dupré (1851-1910) - The cow at the watering place

Oil on canvas. 23.75 x 31.75 inches, 60.3 x 80.7 cm.

Estimate: €15,000-20,000.

To be sold Sotheby's, Paris, ending 9 June 2026.

[womblegrinch]

Rae Sloan Bredin (1881-1933) - Girl With White Fan

Oil on canvas. Painted in c.1915.

30 x 25 inches, 76.2 x 63.5 cm. Estimate: US$12,000-18,000.

To be sold Freeman's, Philadelphia, 7 June 2026.

[womblegrinch]

Aldro Thompson Hibbard (1886-1972) - The Saw Mill

Oil on canvas. 36.1 x 40.1 inches, 91.7 x 101.9 cm.

Estimate: US$5,000-8,000.

To be sold Freeman's, Philadelphia, 7 June 2026.

[womblegrinch]

Samuel John Lamorna Birch (1869-1955) - The Old Quay, Lamorna (from my garden)

Oil on plywood panel. 12.8 x 15.9 inches, 32.5 x 40.5 cm.

Estimate: £3,000-5,000.

To be sold Woolley & Wallis, Salisbury, 2 June 2026.

[womblegrinch]

Nothing has been addressed. I am a coward.

[womblegrinch]

I will be back

After ten years I needed a break, and I received some news from home that, to my shame, I haven't addressed. Seven months and I still don't know how. Seven months. I found out my dad died two years ago and I still haven't made contact. I am the worst. Twelve thousand miles and only a phone call away. My family didn't deserve for me to disappear with no explanation. I just haven't done anything with my life to merit updating them. Not in thirty eight years. I'll never be forgiven. There are three thousand artworks in the archive. Make do.

Do not comment. Do not repost.

[womblegrinch]

Eugène Boudin (1824-1898) - La baie de Douarnenez

Oil on canvas. Painted in 1897. 21.9 x 35.6 inches, 55.3 x 90.6 cm.

With Christie's Private Sales, Paris, Aug 2025.

Douarnenez is a town on the coast of Brittany, northwestern France.

[womblegrinch]

Frederick Carl Frieseke (1874-1939) - Portrait of Madame Gély #1 (On the coach)

Oil on panel. Painted c.1907. 19.5 x 24 inches, 49.5 x 61 cm.

With Christie's Private Sales, Aug 2025.

The painting depicts Janet O'Bryan Gély, the younger sister of Frieseke's wife, Sarah.

[womblegrinch]

Andrew Wyeth (1917-2009) - Due back

Watercolour and gouache on paper. Painted in 1965. 18.75 x 24 inches, 47.6 x 61 cm.

Part of a selling exhibition at Christie's, New York, 1 Aug - 30 Sept 2025.

[womblegrinch]

Andrew Wyeth (1917-2009) - Fair wind

Watercolour on paper. Painted in 1940. 17 x 30 inches, 43.2 x 76.2 cm.

Part of a selling exhibition at Christie's, New York, 1 Aug - 30 Sept 2025.

[womblegrinch]

Emanuel Phillips Fox (1865-1915) - A sunny afternoon

Oil on canvas. Painted in 1913.

15 x 18.3 inches, 38 x 46.3 cm. Estimate: Aus$20,000-30,000.

Sold Smith & Singer, Sydney, 19 Aug 2025 for Aus$42,950 incl B.P.

[womblegrinch]

Rah Fizelle (1891-1964) - Sleeping nude

Oil on canvas. Painted c.1938-39.

21.7 x 35.25 inches, 55 x 89.5 cm. Estimate: Aus$120,000-160,000.

Sold Smith & Singer, Sydney, 19 Aug 2025 for Aus$196,360 incl B.P.

[womblegrinch]

Penleigh Boyd (1890-1923) - Austinmer

Oil on canvas. Painted in 1922.

16.1 x 22 inches, 41 x 56 cm. Estimate: Aus$30,000-50,000.

Sold Smith & Singer, Sydney, 19 Aug 2025 for Aus$165,680 incl B.P.

Austinmer is a small township on the New South Wales coast. It will not come as a surprise to learn that Austinmer is a popular surfing destination.

[womblegrinch]

Lucien-Victor Delpy (1898-1967) - Ramassage du goémon

Oil on canvas. 8.7 x 10.6 inches, 22 x 27 cm.

Estimate: €300-500.

Sold Thierry-Lannon, Brest, France, 19 July 2025 for €800 + B.P.

Up until the 1950s, thousands of wagonloads of seaweed were harvested on the French coast each year to extract the potassium within for use in the glass and soap industries and for the manufacture of gunpowder.

[womblegrinch]

Jane Peterson (1876-1965) - Gloucester Harbor - late afternoon

Oil on canvas. 30 x 40 inches, 76.2 x 101.6 cm.

With Christie's Private Sales, New York, July 2025.