Abstract Expressionist Composition – Labelled Roland Alexander 1962

Description
This striking abstract oil on canvas, labelled on the reverse “Roland Alexander 1962,” exemplifies the expressive materiality of early 1960s Art Informel. The surface is built up with thick, tactile impasto—deep greens, umber, crimson, and cobalt intertwine in a vigorous composition of gestural brushwork and layered pigment. Flecks of ochre and white emerge through darker passages, suggesting fleeting structure within an otherwise turbulent field. The painting’s dense texture and chromatic tension evoke a post-war sensibility of introspection and renewal, balancing chaos and order through rhythm and color. Executed with great physicality, the work reflects the European movement toward abstraction that emphasized the autonomy of the painted surface and the immediacy of expression. Its richly encrusted surface and complex palette make it a compelling statement piece from the period.

Artist
Label on the reverse reads: “Roland Alexander 1962.”

Artist Details
Although the artist’s identity remains uncertain, the inscription places the work within the milieu of 1960s European abstraction, marked by spontaneous gesture, layered pigment, and textural experimentation aligned with the Art Informel and Tachisme movements.

Movements
Art Informel / Tachisme

Artist Influenced by
Influenced by the gestural abstraction of Antoni Tàpies, Jean Fautrier, and Jean-Paul Riopelle.

Frame Condition
Set in a period black wooden frame showing minor wear and surface patina consistent with age, enhancing the work’s historical presence.