{"product_id":"metamorphosis-virginia-cohn-parkum-c-1989","title":"Metamorphosis  - Virginia Cohn Parkum, c. 1989","description":"\u003carticle class=\"text-token-text-primary w-full focus:outline-none [--shadow-height:45px] has-data-writing-block:pointer-events-none has-data-writing-block:-mt-(--shadow-height) has-data-writing-block:pt-(--shadow-height) [\u0026amp;:has([data-writing-block])\u0026gt;*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]\" dir=\"auto\" data-turn-id=\"b4b4e1d1-7f85-478b-ad26-490320b8c976\" data-testid=\"conversation-turn-6\" data-scroll-anchor=\"true\" data-turn=\"assistant\" tabindex=\"-1\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"text-base my-auto mx-auto pb-10 [--thread-content-margin:--spacing(4)] @w-sm\/main:[--thread-content-margin:--spacing(6)] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-margin:--spacing(16)] px-(--thread-content-margin)\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"[--thread-content-max-width:40rem] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-max-width:48rem] mx-auto max-w-(--thread-content-max-width) flex-1 group\/turn-messages focus-visible:outline-hidden relative flex w-full min-w-0 flex-col agent-turn\" tabindex=\"-1\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex max-w-full flex-col grow\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-message-author-role=\"assistant\" data-message-id=\"ba5e0f6d-53ed-43ac-8dd3-bccf9fc79f84\" dir=\"auto\" class=\"min-h-8 text-message relative flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 text-start break-words whitespace-normal [.text-message+\u0026amp;]:mt-1\" data-message-model-slug=\"gpt-5-2\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden first:pt-[1px]\"\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003ctable width=\"100%\" style=\"width: 98.087%;\" height=\"1543\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 100%;\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(81, 185, 217);\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"53\"\u003eArtwork Description\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMetamorphosis\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"53\" data-end=\"56\"\u003e\u003cem data-start=\"56\" data-end=\"88\"\u003eVirginia Cohn Parkum, c. 1989\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003carticle class=\"text-token-text-primary w-full focus:outline-none [--shadow-height:45px] has-data-writing-block:pointer-events-none has-data-writing-block:-mt-(--shadow-height) has-data-writing-block:pt-(--shadow-height) [\u0026amp;:has([data-writing-block])\u0026gt;*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]\" dir=\"auto\" data-turn-id=\"b4b4e1d1-7f85-478b-ad26-490320b8c976\" data-testid=\"conversation-turn-6\" data-scroll-anchor=\"true\" data-turn=\"assistant\" tabindex=\"-1\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"text-base my-auto mx-auto pb-10 [--thread-content-margin:--spacing(4)] @w-sm\/main:[--thread-content-margin:--spacing(6)] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-margin:--spacing(16)] px-(--thread-content-margin)\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"[--thread-content-max-width:40rem] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-max-width:48rem] mx-auto max-w-(--thread-content-max-width) flex-1 group\/turn-messages focus-visible:outline-hidden relative flex w-full min-w-0 flex-col agent-turn\" tabindex=\"-1\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex max-w-full flex-col grow\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-message-author-role=\"assistant\" data-message-id=\"ba5e0f6d-53ed-43ac-8dd3-bccf9fc79f84\" dir=\"auto\" class=\"min-h-8 text-message relative flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 text-start break-words whitespace-normal [.text-message+\u0026amp;]:mt-1\" data-message-model-slug=\"gpt-5-2\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden first:pt-[1px]\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"markdown prose dark:prose-invert w-full wrap-break-word dark markdown-new-styling\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex max-w-full flex-col grow\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-message-author-role=\"assistant\" data-message-id=\"7dbb9ce6-002d-4a76-84f7-6af88d3e62f9\" dir=\"auto\" class=\"min-h-8 text-message relative flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 text-start break-words whitespace-normal [.text-message+\u0026amp;]:mt-1\" data-message-model-slug=\"gpt-5-2\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden first:pt-[1px]\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"markdown prose dark:prose-invert w-full wrap-break-word dark markdown-new-styling\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"82\" data-end=\"698\"\u003eIn \u003cem data-start=\"85\" data-end=\"100\"\u003eMetamorphosis\u003c\/em\u003e, Virginia Cohn Parkum presents the human body as a site of transformation rather than anatomical description. The figure, seen from behind, occupies the center of the composition and is rendered through broad, fluid passages of pale flesh tones punctuated by dark void-like forms. The surrounding field of deep reds, umbers, and black envelops the figure, collapsing spatial depth and situating the body within a charged, indeterminate environment. This compression of space denies conventional figure–ground separation and instead frames the body as an emergent presence within a field of forces.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"700\" data-end=\"1372\"\u003eThe painting’s structure is organized around contrast and interruption. Pale, luminous passages define the spine and shoulder blades, emphasizing verticality and skeletal structure, while irregular black forms interrupt the torso, destabilizing the integrity of the body. These dark passages read simultaneously as shadows, cavities, or zones of dissolution, complicating the viewer’s perception of the figure’s physical coherence. Rather than modeling musculature, Parkum constructs the body through tonal oppositions that suggest both presence and erasure. The spine functions as a central axis, reinforcing the sense of transformation occurring along a structural core.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1374\" data-end=\"1947\"\u003eMaterial handling plays a central role in the work’s conceptual framework. The paint is applied in gestural sweeps and thin washes that reveal the direction and speed of the artist’s hand, while areas of exposed ground and dragged pigment produce a sense of abrasion and reworking. Red passages along the lower torso and left side appear to bleed outward into the surrounding field, emphasizing permeability between body and environment. This permeability challenges the notion of the body as a closed system, instead presenting it as porous and subject to external forces.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1949\" data-end=\"2586\"\u003eThe title \u003cem data-start=\"1959\" data-end=\"1974\"\u003eMetamorphosis\u003c\/em\u003e invites interpretation through both biological and philosophical frameworks. In biological terms, metamorphosis denotes a process of radical structural change, a transition from one state of being to another. Parkum’s figure appears caught within such a transitional state, neither fully intact nor fully dissolved. From a philosophical perspective, the work resonates with phenomenological conceptions of embodiment in which the body is not a fixed object but an evolving site of perception and experience. The instability of form suggests a subject in the process of becoming rather than a completed identity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2588\" data-end=\"2979\"\u003eThe absence of narrative markers or contextual detail shifts emphasis from representation to condition. The viewer encounters not a specific individual but a body undergoing transformation, marked by tension between cohesion and fragmentation. The surrounding chromatic field intensifies this condition, functioning less as environment than as an atmospheric pressure acting upon the figure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2981\" data-end=\"3421\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003eThrough its reductive formal language and emphasis on material process, \u003cem data-start=\"3053\" data-end=\"3068\"\u003eMetamorphosis\u003c\/em\u003e situates itself within postwar figurative expressionism, where the human form becomes a vehicle for exploring existential change, vulnerability, and the instability of selfhood. Parkum’s treatment of the body resists idealization, instead presenting transformation as a state of exposure — one in which identity, structure, and boundary remain in flux.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n-\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(114, 58, 150);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJonathan Flike\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(114, 58, 150);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/article\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 100%;\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(81, 185, 217);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCustom Shipping Notice\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDue to size, weight, and handling requirements, this painting requires custom shipping. Shipping costs are \u003cstrong data-start=\"222\" data-end=\"238\"\u003enot included\u003c\/strong\u003e at the time of purchase and will be \u003cstrong data-start=\"275\" data-end=\"322\"\u003equoted separately after payment is received\u003c\/strong\u003e. A custom shipping invoice will be issued \u003cstrong data-start=\"365\" data-end=\"393\"\u003ewithin 3–5 business days\u003c\/strong\u003e, based on the artwork’s dimensions, destination, and quotes from our shipping partners. The artwork will \u003cstrong data-start=\"499\" data-end=\"560\"\u003enot ship until the shipping invoice has been paid in full\u003c\/strong\u003e. This process ensures appropriate packing, insurance, and safe delivery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 100%;\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(81, 185, 217);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInformation\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStyle: Modern\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSubject: Figure\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYear: 1989\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSight: 10.50 x 13.5 in (26.67 x 34.29 cm)\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFrame: 18.00 x 22.00 in\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMedium: Mixed Media\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaterial: Paper\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSignature: Signed\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCirculation status: One of a kind\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFrame Status: Framed \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 100%;\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(81, 185, 217);\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"119\" data-start=\"78\"\u003eVintage Condition Disclaimer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr data-end=\"122\" data-start=\"119\"\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003ePlease note that this item is vintage and shows wear consistent with age, use, and history. Signs of wear may include, but are not limited to, minor surface marks, patina, fading, or imperfections typical of older items. All items are sold\u003cstrong\u003e as-is\u003c\/strong\u003e, which is standard with vintage and pre-owned goods and cannot be returned on the basis of condition. Measurements are approximate. We do our best to describe items accurately; however, condition assessments are subjective. If you would like additional details, images, or clarification before purchasing, please contact us through the contact form.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(81, 185, 217);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecial Condition Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHistorically Framed (please see Historical Framing \u0026amp; Framing Components Policy)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 100%;\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(81, 185, 217);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance*\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1989-2025\u003c\/strong\u003e: Virginia Cohn Parkum\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2025-2026\u003c\/strong\u003e: Cordier Auctions\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2026-Present\u003c\/strong\u003e: Visard Gallery\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003e\u003cem\u003e*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.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 100%;\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(81, 185, 217);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAcademic Resources\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(81, 185, 217);\"\u003e\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fo\/fi3m8b0grc277g12czjg1\/ACj1KDAbO13SKyhypI6ysLs?rlkey=s3oqgp11pljzq8n4f1vpahu27\u0026amp;st=6nr74zc0\u0026amp;dl=0\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(81, 185, 217);\"\u003eVirginia Cohn Parkum Research \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003ca style=\"color: rgb(81, 185, 217);\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fo\/e8vnon5v9ml9f54zs9r07\/ABFaZjTGHmWxTl5a70xzebc?rlkey=tn14xm7bbvo5o0qwd3td3z5g3\u0026amp;st=yx6wbi6y\u0026amp;dl=0\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/article\u003e","brand":"Visard Gallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45722357629089,"sku":"ART026","price":1250.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0698\/6072\/0801\/files\/ART026_VirginiaCohnParkum_Metamorphosis_Full.png?v=1771212999","url":"https:\/\/visardgallery.com\/products\/metamorphosis-virginia-cohn-parkum-c-1989","provider":"Visard Gallery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}