Oldsmobile Cutlass Car Advertisement Artwork Automobilia, 1977

This Oldsmobile Cutlass advertisement from 1977 depicts a complex figural composition integrated with a car and a homey landscape. Beyond its status as a historical document of an Oldsmobile Cutlass advertisement, the work's enduring quality lies in its masterful execution. Although the artist is not known in the so-called fine art community, his work attains the highest level of draughtsmanship, composition, light and color, all wrapped in a post-impressionist style. Al Schmidt worked for one of the most prestigious and high-profile commercial clients, GM. They had a huge budget and could have hired any artist in the world but in 1977, they chose Al Schmidt. GM recognized his talent and his work was widely published as adverts for the GM brands. The key point of this work is that some of the greatest American artists remain in almost complete obscurity because they are classified as commercial artists and eclipsed by less talented fine-art artists with pumped-up and dubious museum credentials. There are very few so-called fine artists today who paint a picture this good. Signed lower right. Unframed. Board size. 20 x 21
Gouache on Illustration board
19 1/2 × 17 1/2 in | 49.5 × 44.5 cm
US$15,000 Plus Shipping