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Gertrude Abercrombie Most Popular Paintings

The 5 artworks by Gertrude Abercrombie our visitors ask for most, ranked by popularity and presented one by one, with the specification and the price of each hand-painted reproduction.

Edition 2026 · 5 artworks Each artwork painted to order
Linen canvas · Certificate of authenticity · Delivered worldwide Gertrude Abercrombie · 1909 – 1977

The Past and the Present

1945 · Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 1 of 5 artworks by Gertrude Abercrombie
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17835 × 29 cm Commission this artwork

Witches

1952 · original 40 x 50 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 2 of 5 artworks by Gertrude Abercrombie
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17836 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$20950 × 40 cm Commission at original size

The Stroll

original 70 x 89 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 3 of 5 artworks by Gertrude Abercrombie
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17836 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$33789 × 70 cm Commission at original size

White Cat

1938 · original 92 x 77 cm

Own a captivating 'White Cat' by Gertrude Abercrombie (1938). A surreal interior scene featuring a living room & feline charm. Hand-painted reproduction – exquisite art!

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 4 of 5 artworks by Gertrude Abercrombie
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17829 × 35 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$36377 × 92 cm Commission at original size

Slaughterhouse Ruins at Aledo

1937 · original 51 x 61 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 5 of 5 artworks by Gertrude Abercrombie
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17835 × 29 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$24361 × 51 cm Commission at original size

The artist

Gertrude Abercrombie

1909 – 1977

Quick facts

NationalityUnited States
Top-ranked workThe Past and the Present
Died1977
Born1909, Austin, United States
Lifespan68 years
Top 3 worksThe Past and the Present, Witches, The Stroll

Biography

Gertrude Abercrombie: A Life in Art

Born: Austin, Texas (February 17, 1909)
Died: Chicago, Illinois (July 3, 1977)
Nationality: American

Early Life and Education

Gertrude Abercrombie was born into a family of traveling opera singers. Her parents, Tom and Lula Janes Abercrombie, frequently moved due to their profession.
The family spent time in Berlin in 1913 before returning to the United States amidst World War I. They eventually settled in Hyde Park, Chicago.
She received a degree in Romance Languages from the University of Illinois in 1929.
Briefly studied figure drawing at the Art Institute of Chicago and took a year-long course in commercial art at the American Academy of Art.
Early employment included creating advertisements for Mesirow Department Store and working as an artist for Sears.

Artistic Development and Style

Abercrombie dedicated herself to painting by 1932, achieving her first sale in 1933.
Her work during the 1930s was influenced by European Surrealism, though she didn't explicitly identify with the movement. She considered herself a Midwestern artist.
She participated in the Works Progress Administration (WPA) Federal Art Project from 1934 to 1940.
Her style evolved from impressionistic brushwork to a more precise, linear approach.
Recurring themes and symbols include self-portraits, interiors, landscapes, owls, cats, keys, shells, doors, stairways, and ladders.
She often depicted solitary figures in sparsely furnished rooms, creating an atmosphere of introspection and mystery.
Her color palette shifted from dark, earthy tones to lighter hues after her second marriage.
Abercrombie's work is characterized by a dreamlike quality, elongated figures, and a symbolic vocabulary.

Influences and Notable Works

Giorgio de Chirico: Abercrombie’s style shows influence from the Italian metaphysical painter.
Ivan Albright & Julia Thecla: Shared regional magical realism with these contemporaries.
Jazz Music: Her close relationships with jazz musicians like Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker profoundly influenced her artistic vision, inspiring "Gertrude's Bounce" by Richie Powell.
Notable Works: White Cat (1938), Slaughterhouse Ruins at Aledo, Witches, Self-Portrait of My Sister, and numerous smaller works depicting interiors and symbolic objects.

Legacy and Historical Significance

Abercrombie is recognized as a significant figure in the Chicago art scene and a key representative of American Surrealism.
Her unique style and introspective themes have garnered increasing attention from scholars and collectors.
The Gertrude Abercrombie Trust, established through her will, distributed her work and that of other artists she supported to cultural institutions throughout the Midwest.
A major retrospective of her work was held at the Hyde Park Art Center shortly before her death in 1977.
Her art continues to be celebrated for its dreamlike quality, symbolic depth, and exploration of personal identity.

Questions & Answers

Can I browse Gertrude Abercrombie's works by mood?

The artist's Mood Room page shows Gertrude Abercrombie's artworks arranged by their atmosphere.

Where are Gertrude Abercrombie's artworks grouped by palette?

To find works by Gertrude Abercrombie in a specific palette, use the artist's By Palettes page.

In which historical period did Gertrude Abercrombie work?

Gertrude Abercrombie worked in the Modern period. The period situates the artist's activity in history.

By the TopImpressionists.com Editorial Team Updated Sept. 2, 2026

Collector's quiz

Where was Gertrude Abercrombie born?
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