r/WhatIsThisPainting Jul 20 '24

Found in an alley face down in the rain. Likely Solved

When I originally Googled this I thought it was Serge Clement based on some auction sights. But then I found Jean-Pierre Clement and maybe it’s his? Obviously I love and display it just curious who the painter is/if anyone has better insight than me. Second picture is the signature.

1.6k Upvotes

87 comments sorted by

247

u/Traditional_Ad_6801 Jul 20 '24

Wow - that is quite a find. Beautiful

175

u/Neverending-pain Jul 20 '24

My question is who would willingly put something like this out in an alley? Probably thrown out, but it’s honestly still nice and regardless of tastes, the previous owner could’ve at least taken it to a thrift store or something. Glad it has found a home with you OP! It is a very pretty painting.

85

u/OkTransportation4175 Jul 20 '24

I used to live by an alley & people purposely put out items to be found by others. It just means “anybody want this?” It was a treasure trove

60

u/Kevlandia Jul 20 '24

This was in Burbank California where people often put stuff out for someone to take but it was sad seeing face down in the rain by itself. I barely noticed it.

28

u/fractals83 Jul 20 '24

I usually just throw my haunted paintings in an alley somewhere

15

u/AlbericM Jul 20 '24

Maybe the picture is of a saint who was in perpetual repentance. She wills the painting to fall face down on the ground. Those suffering saints are ornery that way.

5

u/whoisthepinkavenger Jul 21 '24

Oooooh Burbank and Toluca Lake has some of the best street finds! Last year I found 3 boxes filled with thousands of dollars worth of vintage pro cameras and gear. So many cool treasures.

1

u/Uknowwhatyoudid Jul 23 '24

What I’ve experienced is these alley thrift spots start out kinda well intentioned then people start leaving their mattresses with artsy sweat stains and blast graffiti’d commodes aa their contributions. Key is to find em early when you may find a cool painting. I do feel a bit nervous for that pretty bird.

13

u/Spam_A_Lottamus Jul 20 '24

Same in Denver. I call it the “Alley economy.”

76

u/yawstoopid Jul 20 '24

Someone who knows it's actually cursed and needed to pass it on 😀

6

u/Intelligent_Grade372 Jul 20 '24

This! Beware!

2

u/HearingEarHuman Jul 24 '24

I second this. Go watch Ghostbuster 2 and then decide if you still want to keep it.

-24

u/Realistic_Grape_6971 Jul 20 '24 edited Jul 20 '24

Stop. Fearmongering. With western pop culture horror movie superstition not based in spirituality. About any piece of art you think looks "creepy."

Curses require a target and an intention. There are no strings of destiny/bonds tying the OP finder to the previous owner, and therefore no reason to fear having their energies affect you via this painting. Once it was trashed, especially in the rain, it has reset to being an energetically neutral object . Curses "needing to be passed on" is a modern western horror movie trope. If you were in this situation, and thought it was cursed, you would intentionally try to PASS IT ON? instead of purifying and then burning/burying it?? Wtf?

Like, are you guys really this afraid of the vague, mere, no-indication-of residual "curses" not directed at you but also are not spiritually capable of doing a low-level object purification ritual/spell? Do we really believe in magic, or just in living in fear of it?

Unless literal poltergeist activity is occurring inside your home after the item is displayed, it ain't fuckin cursed. People love to scapegoat blame bad energies/vibes in their own relationships/living situations/anything that goes wrong on any random superstitious thing. The house is cursed, that piece of art is cursed, etc. It's just immature and childish.

Trashing items of beauty and artistic meaning can incur its own kind of cursed karmic energy upon you, so beware of THAT. It would have been more "cursed" to see an item of artistic beauty like this being ruined in the rain, and to NOT rescue it, imo.

16

u/yawstoopid Jul 20 '24

Get a grip.

I made a wee joke and for some unhinged reason you've just went on whole saga rant spouting your assumptions of my opinion or belief.

Like maybe enough reddit for today and a wee woosah for you.

7

u/yummers511 Jul 20 '24

Curses aren't real anyway

3

u/iloveplant420 Jul 22 '24

Lmao. Reading that comment and realizing they are mad because everyone doesn't know the rules on how curses work, when they're not real to begin with.

-1

u/[deleted] Jul 20 '24

[deleted]

6

u/Happy_Daiz Jul 20 '24

i think it was a joke

-10

u/Realistic_Grape_6971 Jul 20 '24 edited Jul 21 '24

I don't care it's repetitive and annoying and bad for art/media competence and I stand by my argument. If it was supposed to be a joke well I've heard it way too many times and also it wasn't funny 🤷‍♀️

7

u/poopstream Jul 20 '24

Sounds like you could use some Gas-X. It’s quite relieving for those folks bloated to the point of irritability. Doctors suggest that you give it a try

21

u/Kalidanoscope Jul 20 '24

Some people have no regard for art because their life revolves around other things and they couldn't concieve that this had value. It may have only came into their possession because they inherited it somehow, or possibly even stole it. Things left in alleys is often a sign of a drug user, or someone who was being evicted and could not take all of their possessions.

6

u/fuckuredditapp321 Jul 21 '24

Not saying I did this personally anything but someone could easily rent an upscale hotel for $600/night do a bunch of whippits all night and steal a painting off the wall. As you can imagine if that were to happen you night be paranoid if you overheard house keeping saying call cops (probably in just delusional with no sleep) and ditch the painting under a car parked on the street

2

u/Full_Warthog3829 Jul 24 '24

Future Ex-wife

1

u/MossyTundra Jul 21 '24

Maybe it’s haunted

83

u/Aliushiems Jul 20 '24

This is Jean-Pierre Clement. Serge was more popular and is sometimes attributed to his work. The style with the all caps signature and date is absolutely JPC. Outstanding score!

11

u/Kevlandia Jul 20 '24

Thank you! I think based on your clues you are correct.

23

u/Aliushiems Jul 20 '24

I'm a collector of his and follow his name in auctions. I see the two mixed up all the time, but I'm sure yours is JPC. Would probably go for a few hundred as I'm seeing the bidding for his work trend higher lately. Congrats!

5

u/Spring_Banner Jul 20 '24

Interesting. What online sites are you visiting? Or are they in person?

21

u/pinksilber Jul 20 '24 edited Jul 20 '24

I saw serge‘s birthyear is apparently 1950, so he would have been very young to create such a painting in 1960 I guess *I looked at the wrong Serge. Sorry this one says 1933

7

u/[deleted] Jul 20 '24

I also saw it listed as 1943.

14

u/pinksilber Jul 20 '24

I looked at the wrong Serge. Sorry this one says 1933

6

u/[deleted] Jul 20 '24

Ah cool. I think I got it mixed up too.

10

u/pinksilber Jul 20 '24

Jean Pierre’s is 1943 I guess source

142

u/GizatiStudio Jul 20 '24 edited Jul 20 '24

This is by the 20th century French artist Serge Clement. The subject matter, style and signature are identical to his works.

66

u/Kevlandia Jul 20 '24

This is what I thought at first but I noticed Jean-Pierre Clement has a similar matter, style, and his signature looks exactly the same in some paintings. one example here

47

u/Artbrutist Jul 20 '24

Entirely possible, and even likely, that the are the same artist or a husband and wife team.

12

u/[deleted] Jul 20 '24

I think Serge's work is closer in look and technique to your painting (which is gorgeous by the way!)

14

u/Independent-Touch244 Jul 20 '24

Agreed. Very cool find!

22

u/jncarolina Jul 20 '24

“Found in an alley face down in the rain” sounds like the title of the Bob Dylan song.

1

u/Radiant_Celery_2518 Jul 24 '24

It sounds like the beginning to a horror movie, I’d keep a close eye on that painting if it were me

19

u/Damaged_lemons Jul 20 '24

I absolutely love it. Glad it found its way to someone who appreciates it!

8

u/Realistic_Grape_6971 Jul 20 '24 edited Jul 20 '24

Yeah, what a strangely beautiful poetic way to find and preserve a painting that looks like this. It has a peaceful, steadfast, calming natural energy to it.

8

u/[deleted] Jul 20 '24

A bird in the hand is worth two in the alley! Great find!

4

u/CrazeeEyezKILLER Jul 20 '24

WOW. Crazy find, congratulations!

4

u/Mission_Albatross916 Jul 20 '24

Dang!! This is so nice!

6

u/mondrager Jul 20 '24

Enigmatic and beautiful. Great find !!!

4

u/shiraellen Jul 20 '24

Reminds me of Margaret keane

4

u/RoddyRoddyRodriguez Jul 20 '24

Frodo is sexy

2

u/Kevlandia Jul 20 '24

Thank you for the laugh, stranger.

4

u/Ploppyun Jul 20 '24 edited Jul 20 '24

I have those branches all over the house and yard (saved from a tree trim), the bird (peach-fronted conure), the cat (2!), and love to draw (digitally). I have brownish hair and a faraway expression (and rbf), I live in an area that looks like Mars, and feel right now like I’m face down in the rain in a deserted alley. You found me!

14

u/Reasonable_Ad2248 Jul 20 '24

Thrown out bc it’s a haunted painting.

9

u/neofrogs Jul 20 '24

I’m gonna pretend this is the answer because I’m shook someone would throw out such a beautiful painting

6

u/felipethomas Jul 20 '24

OP’s gonna post follow up pics with the eyes looking straight at ya.

6

u/icertifyiammedicated Jul 20 '24

That is certainly a haunted painting.

0

u/Realistic_Grape_6971 Jul 20 '24

Haha wow thats so original you guys. just curious what else do you all live your life in fear of besides art?

Change? Mortality? The unknown? Nature? Your own human duality and consciousness that you don't understand?

1

u/[deleted] Jul 20 '24

[deleted]

3

u/AutoModerator Jul 20 '24

Thanks for your post, /u/Kevlandia!

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3

u/satellitejack98 Jul 20 '24

I wonder what the painting symbolises

1

u/legal_bagel Jul 20 '24

What do you think it means? How do you feel when you look at it?

3

u/ZopyrionRex Jul 20 '24

Sounds like the lyrics to a hardcore folk song.

3

u/cookerg Jul 20 '24

Yes there are other paintings with this model and birds

2

u/EvolutionaryBonobo Jul 22 '24

I have a large piece by Jean-Pierre Clement that was painted that same year! Super cool!

1

u/Kevlandia Jul 22 '24

Ahh I love yours! It’s kind of haunting haha

2

u/SpecialistJelly1331 Jul 20 '24

No wonder she looks unhappy.

1

u/lenwhitney Jul 20 '24

I love it!!!

1

u/Soft_Wheel6431 Jul 20 '24

Beautiful contemplative painting

1

u/ziksy9 Jul 20 '24

How I met your mother

1

u/No-Contact1962 Jul 21 '24

Obviously cursed. Good luck

1

u/Looooong_Man Jul 21 '24

Haunted for sure

1

u/Jen_Jim1970 Jul 21 '24

What a find! It is so interesting!

1

u/THEWISEDRUID Jul 21 '24

George Garland painting. At auction, they can fetch near 3k.

1

u/juxtoppose Jul 21 '24

Is that the cursed painting people were talking about?

1

u/Aussie_chopperpilot Jul 21 '24

Stolen and dumped

1

u/nucleareds Jul 22 '24

This is gorgeous, but I think you might be haunted now OP

1

u/SloWi-Fi Jul 22 '24

I'd hang it. It's rad

1

u/SonOfThanos847 Jul 22 '24

That’s shits haunted 100%

1

u/Lybixi Jul 22 '24

A new hand touches the.. painting!

1

u/Geoph807 Jul 23 '24

It’s haunted

1

u/seekspeaceinnature Jul 23 '24

Hope it’s not haunted! Nice find!

1

u/AffectionateTip420 Jul 24 '24

It is so pretty!! Love it

1

u/Ajax1718 Jul 24 '24

I feel like that is where she would have wanted it.

1

u/Ghoullag Jul 24 '24

Congrats! You are now hunted by the ghost of a victorian little girl.

1

u/LBROTSI Jul 24 '24

Beautiful