Description:

George Rodrigue (American/Louisiana, 1944-2013), "I Hear the Blues, I See the Blues, I Sing the Blues", 1992, acrylic on canvas, signed lower right, label with artist and title on frame, 48 in. x 84 in., framed. Provenance: Sotheby's New York, Mar. 10, 2009, lot 251. Ill.: Rodrigue, George. Blue Dog Speaks. New York: Sterling, 2008, pp. 182-183. Note: “I Hear the Blues, I See the Blues, I Sing the Blues” of 1992 represents one of the first periods in George Rodrigue’s career when he was able to break free of the constraints of his earlier work. The dark palette of his oils and tight brushwork of his detailed compositions gave way to house paintbrushes, monumental canvases and eye-catching acrylics. This painting, in every way, showcases the Blue Dog – free of his bayou surroundings and foreshadowing the international fame soon to be achieved by its creator. The year of 1992 for Rodrigue marked the Absolut Vodka commission, including a full page in USA Today, and a public broadcasting short movie featuring Whoopi Goldberg as the voice of Tiffany. “I Hear the Blues, I See the Blues, I Sing the Blues” also achieved an auction milestone – its previous sale at Sotheby’s New York in 2009 for $170,500 was the world record auction price for the artist for six years until surpassed by Neal Auction Company’s sale of “Chairman of the Board” in 2015. Ref.: Rodrigue, Wendy. “Blue Dog: The Ghost of Tiffany, 1990-1992.” Musings of an Artist’s Wife. Nov. 1, 2009. www.wendyrodrigue.com. Accessed Mar. 19, 2019.

  • Condition: All lots are sold “As is” and “Where is”. Neal Auction provides condition reports on items with a low estimate over $500 as a courtesy to aid in your bidding decision. No statement regarding age, condition, kind, value, or quality of a lot, whether made orally at the auction or at any other time, or in writing in this catalogue or elsewhere, shall be construed to be an express or implied warranty, representation, or assumption of liability. Completed condition reports are posted as an additional image with the lot. Neal Auction does not give refunds.

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April 13, 2019 10:00 AM CDT
New Orleans, LA, US

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $2,999 $100
$3,000 $9,999 $250
$10,000 $49,999 $500
$50,000 $999,999 $5,000
$1,000,000 $1,999,999 $10,000
$2,000,000 $2,999,999 $15,000
$3,000,000 + $20,000