"Blue Tragedy/Warped" #1/5 — Framed Collage, Herbert Simon 2008

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This monumental, large-scale framed photocollage titled "Blue Tragedy / Warped" was created by Herbert Simon in 2008. Hand-annotated as number … Read more This monumental, large-scale framed photocollage titled "Blue Tragedy / Warped" was created by Herbert Simon in 2008. Hand-annotated as number 1 of a limited edition of only 5, this large-scale graphic work stands as a brilliant contemporary reimagining of early modernist art. The artwork presents a striking deconstruction of Pablo Picasso's iconic 1903 Blue Period painting, "The Tragedy." Simon precisely sliced the somber, blue-toned figures into fine horizontal strips, restacking and offsetting them to produce a mesmerizing, stepped kinetic wave illusion. This optical "glitch" effect transforms the classical figurative study into a dynamic, contemporary architectural statement. The lower black mat features the artist's original hand-written silver signatures and annotations: titled on the left ("BLUE TRAGEDY / WARPED"), numbered in the center ("1/5"), and signed/dated on the right ("H B Simon 2008"). A secondary, original signature is integrated directly into the lower right corner of the imagery. The piece comes professionally housed in a sleek, custom metallic gallery frame.

About the artist: Herbert Simon (b. 1927) is an American sculptor and printmaker who taught in the art department at Wilkes University from 1969–1992. A student of Hans Hofmann, Robert Motherwell, and Philip Guston, his work bridges the New York School and academic structuralism. His monumental public commissions are permanently installed at major regional landmarks, including the 'Facets' aluminum installation at Wilkes University, the 'Aloft' sculpture at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport, and civic plazas across Pennsylvania. This piece was consigned by the artist and acquired through a local auction house.

✨ Discover more: This piece is a featured highlight from Simon's personal collection. Click our storefront profile to explore a curated selection of his 50-year career, including companion mid-century wood carvings, brutalist welded metals, and abstract expressionist framed art available for immediate purchase. See less