Sold For $83,355
*Includes Buyers Premium
Original artwork by Bob Dylan from his celebrated 'Side Tracks' series, based on his most famous 'Drawn Blank' image ('Train Tracks'), hand-embellished in gouache and mixed media on a 36 x 48 giclée, signed below in pencil by Bob Dylan. The work features Dylan's famous image of empty train tracks stretching into the infinite horizon, the sky ablaze in hues of orange at sunset. Purple houses line the tracks and crimson mountains loom in the distance. Dylan's brushwork is brilliant and energetic, the whites delivered using a textural impasto technique. The artwork is titled on the reverse in pencil: "13 September 1987, Turin, Italy." Each work in Dylan's running 'Side Tracks' series carries a unique date, city, and country, based on concerts he performed from 1961 to 2013. Beautifully mounted, matted, and framed by Castle Fine Art of Birmingham, England, to an overall size of 40 x 52. In very fine condition.
Bob Dylan's 'Side Tracks' series is a celebrated collection of over 300 artworks that showcase his evolution as a visual artist. Each piece begins with a giclée print of his iconic 'Train Tracks' image, a motif that first appeared in his 'Drawn Blank' series. Dylan then hand-embellishes each piece, making every one unique. The artworks are named after specific locations and dates, corresponding to significant concerts performed by Dylan throughout his lengthy career. This personal connection to his touring history adds resonant depth and narrative to the artworks; his 1987 Turin show came as part of the Temples in Flames Tour, which featured Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers as his supporting band.
Bob Dylan’s 'Drawn Blank Series' marks a significant chapter in his journey as a visual artist, showcasing his ability to translate his observations into expressive paintings. Originally created as sketches between 1989 and 1992 while touring across America, Europe, and Asia, these drawings were a means for Dylan to relax and refocus his mind.
In 2006, he began to revisit the collection, transforming his black-and-white sketches into vibrant watercolor and gouache paintings, each version exploring different moods and color palettes. The series debuted at the Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz museum in Germany before being exhibited at London’s Halcyon Gallery, where critics praised his bold use of color and emotive brushwork. Much like his music, Dylan’s artwork reflects his unique perspective on people, places, and the passage of time, solidifying his status as a multidisciplinary artist with a distinct and evolving visual style.
