There is more than one version of this subject matter done by the artist. Because of his love and interest in jazz music this theme seems to be one of his favorites. Mood Indigo (1930) is a jazz composition and song with music by Duke Ellington and Barney Bigard with lyrics by Irving Mills. The main theme was provided by Bigard, who learned it in New Orleans from his clarinet teacher, Lorenzo Tio, who called it a “Mexican Blues.” Sometimes song by Ella Fitzgerald, it is a jazz classic standard. This is a large painting as compared to the former, as with the original Mood Indigo the figure takes up almost the entire canvas. The woman is covered in a saturated blue hue with hints of red situated at three corners. One splash of red could be a flower in a vase placed as a counter to the almost completely blue canvas. The figure strikes a graceful classical dancer’s pose with repetitive concentric lines flowing across the painting. Jazz is said to be abstract and contemplative with a mellow mood, therefore this painting conveys that concept. “You ain’t never been blue, no, no, no, You ain’t never been blue, Till you’ve had that mood indigo."

Signed J Lofton (in script), lower left corner.

This work includes frame and certificate of authenticity.