Description
Big Evening is a hyperactive tableau depicting a cavalcade of misshapen, multi-eyed mutants with bonus body parts. A limited-edition, archival-quality fine art print of this 1960 Flora painting. The previously uncirculated work was first published in the 2009 book The Sweetly Diabolic Art of Jim Flora.
Produced by Flora archivist Barbara Economon, the prints have been meticulously replicated from the original work using state-of-the-art digital technology. A high-resolution scan was made of the original work, a tempera on paper mounted on masonite. All elements of the original artwork—with Flora’s signature and date at the lower right—have been retained. The existing work embodies two colors: black and sepia. The sepia is likely an aging artifact, reflecting several decades of exposure to light, climate, and cigarette smoke; we suspect (but cannot confirm) that these areas were originally white. The sepia has been retained, but the black areas—somewhat faded in the original—have been intensified for the print, providing a strong contrast with the figures. Which is to say, the print looks more vivid than the half century-old original.
Only twenty-five prints (+proofs) of Big Evening were produced for this edition. Each print is numbered in the lower right corner and titled in the lower left beneath the image, and authenticated on the reverse with the stamped seal of Jim Flora Art (a Flora family enterprise). Price of this print will increase for subsequent prints as the edition depletes.
The image area is 7-7/8″ high x 20″ wide—slightly larger than the original work—on an untrimmed sheet 17″ high x 22″ wide. The unframed prints are on heavyweight (310g) mould-made William Turner stock, a natural white, 100% rag paper with a fine toothy surface manufactured by Hahnemühle, who are renowned for premium-grade archival papers. The edition was produced using Epson UltraChrome K3 Pigment Ink Technology, resulting in brilliant, velvety color and offering excellent longevity and durability.
Due to the fine art print’s higher-resolution process, as well as superior paper, inks, and quality control, the colors in the print appear brighter, crisper, and more vibrant than the online image. Online color appearance may vary slightly depending on your monitor settings.