Oil on canvas, framed. Featuring a Haitian woman with two masks. Signed Lois M. Jones and inscribed 1956 and Haiti underneath on the left edge. Attributed to Lois Mailou Jones (1905-1998, American). 71 x 50.1 cm (28 x 20 in). PROVENANCE: Private Canadian collection

Loïs Mailou Jones decided early in her career that she would become a recognized artist - no easy path for an African American girl born at the beginning of the twentieth century. Yet throughout her career, Jones was relentless in her pursuit of the best training and fullest exposure to the people and places that would infuse her art with style and meaning. Jones died at age ninety-two. Her artistic legacy is recorded in hundreds of her canvases - and in the passion and discipline she communicated to some 2,500 students.

All lots that do not carry established documented provenance nor any past record of auction history record are described in the catalog as attributed .

All authorship of items in this catalog are described according to the following terms:

Signed [Artist Name] : In cases in which the signature is legible in the lot, this work is described as-is with no attributions given.

By [Artist Name] : The work is by the artist.

Attributed to [Artist Name] : The work may be ascribed to the artist on the basis of style, but there may be some question as to actual authorship.

In the manner of [Artist Name] : The work was executed by an unknown hand, but was designed deliberately to emulate the style of the artist.

After [Artist Name] : The work was executed by an unknown hand, but is a deliberate copy of a known work by the artist.

Circle of [Artist Name] : A work of the period of the artist showing his influence, closely associated with the artist but not necessarily his pupil.

Follower of [Artist Name]: A work by a pupil or a follower of the artist (not necessarily a pupil).

American, 19th century : This work was executed by an unknown hand, and can only be identified by origin (i.e., region, period).