108: ROGER MEDEARIS (1920-2001) SIGNED LITHOGRAPH WITH COLOR

Roger Norman Medearis (1920-2001)
The Secret (Circa 1980s)
The hand-colored lithograph, numbered 57 from an edition of only 90 prints, is signed by the artist in pencil below the image lower right and titled lower center.

The pencil inscription, ''Hand Painted / RM'' suggests that Roger Medearis applied the seven-plus colors to this stone lithograph.

Roger Medearis was considered one of Benton's most promising students during their tenure at The Kansas City Art Institute. But following the War, Medearis, like so many Regionalists, became disillusioned with the societal changes that saw the public turn away from the old: Regionalism, and embrace the new: Abstraction. Life happened and it wasn't until decades later that the artist found himself making art once again. This print and others in this auction by Roger Medearis are the result of his return to Regionalism. In the market, some of his stone lithographs are found with no color added. Others are found with only a few colors. The prints up for auction here display the full range of ''color added by hand,'' and in great detail.
Image measures 9 x 13.5, sheet size 14 x 18, frame is 19.5 x 23.25 inches.
Very fine condition, the full untrimmed sheet with deckle edges, not laid down, no damage, stain, punctures, tears or repair; framed to archival standards in acid free mounts.
Provenance: The Constable Family Collection.
$300 - $600