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Anita “Angna” Enters (American, 1907-1989), “La Cuisine Francaise”, gouache and watercolor, 1938. Signed and dated by the artist at lower right. Also included is Enters’ book entitled, “Artist’s Life” (New York: Coward-McCann, Inc., 1958) with a signed dedication on the title page. A rare pairing featuring a painting of the protagonist from one of the artist’s plays – also entitled, “La Cuisine Francaise” as well as a book written by the artist which describes the protagonist and also includes a handwritten dedication to Betty Silverstein who once owned this painting. Enters pays tribute to the French housewife – here depicted carrying a basket of fruits and vegetables in one hand and a rabbit in the other. Size: 17″ W x 22″ H (43.2 cm x 55.9 cm); 24″ W x 28.5″ H (61 cm x 72.4 cm) framed
On page 180 of “Artist’s Life” Enters humorously writes, “The linking of cooking and home medicine may seem odd even to those who think of food in terms of vitamins and calories, but in France every housewife is the doctor. For I have found that to French servants the calling in of a doctor means that a priest is necessary.” On page 182, Enters describes the housewife she painted in “La Cuisine Francaise” – “My housewife is dressed in a wide blue and white striped muslin dress, under which is a warm woolen petticoat to resist the chill of provincial stone houses. A pocket for the money bag and keys. Over the dress is a quilted skirt in blues and wine and green floral pattern, edged with wine-colored velvet. This is her best skirt and is pinned up to reveal the striped skirt underneath. A large white apron; an embroidered bonnet – on which the ties corss under the chin and in a bow on top. A fringed rose silk scarf is tied around her throat. White stockings and sabots. She enters with her basket and arms full of fruits, vegetables, and a rabbit. But her object is not the making of a ‘nature morte’!”
Angna Enters studied at the Art Students’ League under John Sloan (American, 1871-1951) and had her first New York exhibition in 1933. In addition to being a gifted painter and sculptor, Enters was a dancer – internationally known for her mime-like style in the 1920’s – and an author. Playwright Stark Young described her style as ”free of influences foreign to her nature.” Dance critic Walter Terry wrote in 1946, “To my way of thinking, the greatest quality about Angna Enters is her unfetteredness.” Although quite famous in her day, Enters has only recently been rediscovered by the art world.
Interestingly, Angna Enters was the subject of artwork by several of her famous contemporaries. Abraham Walkowitz created a pen and ink/watercolor entitled “Angna Enters” ca. 1936-1945 (1973.71.8) which is in the collection of the Smithsonian American Art Museum (https://americanart.si.edu/artwork/angna-enters-26636). Her teacher John Sloan created an etching entitled “The Green Hour (or Angna Enters in ‘The Green Hour’)” (1930) – with Enters as the subject.
Works by Angna Enters are in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and other museum collections. Enters also painted the mural in the Penthouse Theatre of the University of Washington, Seattle. Furthemore, the Dance Collection of The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts holds a special collection of her works and papers.
Enters was also the author of several books, including: “First person plural.” New York: Stackpole sons, 1937. 46 p., 1 l., 47-386 p. incl. front., illus. (music) plates (1 col.) 24 cm.; “Love possessed Juana
Also included with this painting is an original copy of Enters’ book entitled “Artist’s Life” (New York: Coward-McCann, Inc., 1958) with a dedication that reads “For Betty Silverstein – Affectionately, Angna Enters” on the title page.
Condition: Composition is in excellent condition. Signed and dated by the artist at the lower right. Frame displays minor surface wear and minute nicks to corners. Enter’s book “Artist’s Life” is in very good condition. It includes a signed dedication on the title page and describes the subject of this painting on page 182.
Provenance: private Palm Desert, California, USA collection; acquired by descent from Maurice (Red) Silverstein who was President of MGM (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios) International and Betty Silverstein, known as Betty Bryant, who was a successful actress in Australia prior to marrying Red. Always very active socially in New York City, the couple knew many famous artists, writers, and actors in the 1950’s – 1970’s.
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