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Artwork Description Head Inside* In Head Inside, Virginia Cohn Parkum constructs a portrait that feels simultaneously assembled and obstructed, as though the figure is emerging through layers of concealment. The face is divided into zones of color—ochre, slate blue, muted violet, and gray—each applied in broad, opaque passages that resist seamless integration. Rather than modeling form through naturalistic transitions, Parkum builds the head as a composite structure, suggesting fragmentation of perception and identity. A horizontal band sweeps across the lower portion of the composition, partially obscuring the figure’s torso and reinforcing the sensation of containment. This barrier-like gesture introduces a visual interruption that reads as both protective and restrictive, implying psychological enclosure. Behind the head, a dark vertical field marked with linear scratches resembles a grid or scaffold, evoking systems of order, confinement, or imposed structure against which the individual presence presses. The eyes, uneven and asymmetrical, anchor the portrait’s emotional register. One appears sharply defined while the other dissolves into painterly ambiguity, creating an unsettling imbalance that suggests divided awareness. Above, a band of deep red caps the composition, lending the figure a charged, crown-like weight that oscillates between authority and burden. Parkum’s brushwork alternates between deliberate blocks of paint and swift, gestural strokes, allowing the surface to retain evidence of its making. The resulting tension between construction and erasure mirrors the work’s central theme: a self held within, partially hidden and partially revealed. In this way, Head Inside becomes less a likeness than a meditation on interiority—an image of consciousness negotiating the pressures of containment, identity, and self-perception. |
*The title of this work was assigned by Visard Gallery. |
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Custom Shipping Notice Due to size, weight, and handling requirements, this painting requires custom shipping. Shipping costs are not included at the time of purchase and will be quoted separately after payment is received. A custom shipping invoice will be issued within 3–5 business days, based on the artwork’s dimensions, destination, and quotes from our shipping partners. The artwork will not ship until the shipping invoice has been paid in full. This process ensures appropriate packing, insurance, and safe delivery. |
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Information
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Vintage Condition Disclaimer Special Condition Notes Historical Framing (please see Historical Framing & Framing Components Policy) |
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Provenance* 1980s-2025: Virginia Cohn Parkum 2025-2026: Cordier Auctions 2026-Present: Visard Gallery *Provenance and attribution details are based on our best research and are offered in good faith but are not guaranteed. Please contact us through the contact form with any questions prior to purchase. |
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Head Inside - Virginia Cohn Parkum, c. 1980s
$650.00
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Head Inside - Virginia Cohn Parkum, c. 1980s
$650.00
Historical Framing & Framing Components Policy