3. Richmond Oils on Paper

Clyfford Still created over 120 oils on paper while he was teaching in Richmond, Virginia between 1943–45. These works represent a pivotal moment in Still’s transition from representational art to abstraction. While they appear to be completely abstract, the forms recall some of the most prominent motifs in his work from the 1930s and early 1940s. Vote on five oils on paper from the eighteen included below to hang side by side in CSM’s works on paper gallery (scroll all the way down to see the options). Tell us why you chose these paintings when you confirm your votes.
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Abstract painting on paper with much of the paper visible and long black lines in abstract shapes

Clyfford Still, PH-545, 1943.
Oil on paper, 18 x 12 in.
Clyfford Still Museum, Denver, CO.
© City and County of Denver / ARS, NY

PH-545

Oil painting on paper with bare paper showing and yellow and brown paint in abstract vertical shapes

Clyfford Still, PH-487, 1943.
Oil on paper, 20 3/8 x 13 1/8 in.
Clyfford Still Museum, Denver, CO.
© City and County of Denver / ARS, NY

PH-487

Abstract oil painting on paper with an area in a goldish tan going up the center, a white swish up, long black lines up the center, and a blue dot at the top of the black lines resembling a light post

Clyfford Still, PH-527, 1944.
Oil on paper, 19 1/8 x 12 in.
Clyfford Still Museum, Denver, CO.
© City and County of Denver / ARS, NY

PH-527

An abstract oil painting on paper that looks like a dead tree in front of the setting sun

Clyfford Still, PH-94, 1944.
Oil on paper, 12 1/2 x 13 in.
Clyfford Still Museum, Denver, CO.
© City and County of Denver / ARS, NY

PH-94

Abstract oil painting on paper with two shades of yellow and black abstracted figures in the foreground

Clyfford Still, PH-539, 1944.
Oil on paper, 20 x 13 in.
Clyfford Still Museum, Denver, CO.
© City and County of Denver / ARS, NY

PH-539

Abstract oil painting on paper with shades of gray and eerie, ghostly black figures

Clyfford Still, PH-492, 1943.
Oil on paper, 19 7/8 x 13 1/8 in.
Clyfford Still Museum, Denver, CO.
© City and County of Denver / ARS, NY

PH-492

Abstract oil painting on paper with an abstract figure in teh center made of black, red, yellow and gray paint in round tall shapes and lines

Clyfford Still, PH-502, 1943.
Oil on paper, 19 1/8 x 12 3/4 in.
Clyfford Still Museum, Denver, CO.
© City and County of Denver / ARS, NY

PH-502

Abstract oil painting on paper with large sections of black paint in shapes moving upward, with hints of brown, blue, and gold paint

Clyfford Still, PH-499, 1943.
Oil on paper, 18 1/8 x 12 in.
Clyfford Still Museum, Denver, CO.
© City and County of Denver / ARS, NY

PH-499

Abstract oil painting on paper with two figures that seem to interact with each other with black, brown, and yellow background and one figure is white and yellow while the other is green and blue

Clyfford Still, PH-490, 1944.
Oil on paper, 20 x 13 1/8 in.
Clyfford Still Museum, Denver, CO.
© City and County of Denver / ARS, NY

PH-490

Abstract oil painting on paper with yellow background and a black figure with a white outline, a vertical black line with a white outline, and a circular bluish figure with a white and brown outline

Clyfford Still, PH-489, 1944.
Oil on paper, 20 x 13 1/4 in.
Clyfford Still Museum, Denver, CO.
© City and County of Denver / ARS, NY

PH-489

Abstract oil painting on paper with a black border, thick yellow inside border, two black figures separated by blank space, with highlights of tan and orange

Clyfford Still, PH-537, 1944.
Oil on paper, 20 x 13 1/4 in.
Clyfford Still Museum, Denver, CO.
© City and County of Denver / ARS, NY

PH-537

Abstract oil painting on paper mostly made with shades of light and dark gray, with an abstracted human-like figure, vertical lines, and a yellow line moving upwards

Clyfford Still, PH-675, 1944.
Oil on paper, 19 7/8 x 13 1/4 in.
Clyfford Still Museum, Denver, CO.
© City and County of Denver / ARS, NY

PH-675

Abstract oil painting on paper of an abstract human-like figure in grayish blue tones, tan, brown, and black

Clyfford Still, PH-674, 1944.
Oil on paper, 19 x 13 1/2 in.
Clyfford Still Museum, Denver, CO.
© City and County of Denver / ARS, NY

PH-674

Abstract oil painting on paper with an elongated figure in the center in black paint with lines coming down from it and a brown and yellow figure moving upwards

Clyfford Still, PH-546, 1943.
Oil on paper, 19 1/4 x 12 in.
Clyfford Still Museum, Denver, CO.
© City and County of Denver / ARS, NY

PH-546

Abstract oil painting on paper with a large black figure looking left highlighted in green and thin outlined figures in orange, red, and yellow next to it

Clyfford Still, PH-501, 1943.
Oil on paper, 19 x 12 1/2 in.
Clyfford Still Museum, Denver, CO.
© City and County of Denver / ARS, NY

PH-501

Abstract oil on paper painting with a lot of visible paper and three thin black lines that move up and join towards the top, then move left, with a red dot, small blue squiggle, and a green square

Clyfford Still, PH-486, 1943.
Oil on paper, 17 1/2 x 11 3/8 in.
Clyfford Still Museum, Denver, CO.
© City and County of Denver / ARS, NY

PH-486

Abstract oil painting on paper with a tan and light brown background, thin black figures moving upward, a white empty figure to the right, and a yellow circle under the black figures

Clyfford Still, PH-514, 1941.
Oil on paper, 15 x 12 in.
Clyfford Still Museum, Denver, CO.
© City and County of Denver / ARS, NY

PH-514

Abstract oil painting on paper with a black background, an abstract skelton-like and reaching upwards in brown with a white outline and a green and blue figure it is reaching for

Clyfford Still, PH-526, 1944.
Oil on paper, 20 x 13 in.
Clyfford Still Museum, Denver, CO.
© City and County of Denver / ARS, NY