Elke Sommer
German, b. 1940
Christhead
Oil on Canvas
Signed lower left. Abstract portrait of a bust, face with somber eyes and expressive black brush strokes throughout canvas on a white ground. Plaque to front, label to verso: Celebrities Art Exhibits, 408 Olive Street, St. Louis, MO 63102

Elke Sommer is a German actress who appeared in numerous films in her heyday throughout the 1960s and 1970s, including roles in The Pink Panther sequel "A Shot in the Dark" and the Bob Hope comedy "Boy, Did I Get a Wrong Number!". She studied painting as a child under Peter Bina. While her work is often associated with a bright and cheerful tone, she has been known to create more somber pieces, often including a crucifix as a reminder of her pastor father. Marc Chagall is considered one of her prime influences. In 1968, Sommer was introduced to the public with an exhibition at Munich's Galerie Schumacher. She has since exhibited her work in 39 one-woman shows in Europe and the United States.
Sight: 15 1/2 x 11 1/2 in. (39.4 x 29.2 cm.), Frame: 24 x 20 in. (61 x 50.8 cm.)

Some paint flaked off in upper right hand corner.

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