Marshall Goodman Watercolor – Bar Scene, Framed

An xpressive watercolor on paper by Marshall Goodman (American, 1916–2003), depicting a lively barroom conversation among four men. Goodman’s fluid brushwork and warm palette capture the immediacy and atmosphere of a social gathering, blending figural realism with painterly abstraction. Born in Springfield, Massachusetts, Goodman studied at the Rhode Island School of Design before winning a fellowship to study in Mexico with the Taller Gráfico workshop. His work, influenced by the bold colors and compositions of the Mexican school, is noted for its vibrancy, warmth, and storytelling. Over his career, Goodman produced courtroom sketches, theater caricatures, and on‑location scenes, earning recognition for his ability to convey gesture and mood with economy and grace. Signed lower left.

Beautifully presented with rich red velvet matting and gilt fillet, set behind UV‑protective glass in a classic wood frame. An excellent example of Goodman’s mid‑ to late‑20th‑century watercolor work, appealing to collectors and admirers of social narrative art.

Condition:
Excellent overall. No visible damage to the artwork; colors remain rich and unfaded. Frame, matting, and UV glass are in pristine presentation condition.

Dimensions:
Overall (framed): 18.75" x 21.75"
Visible image: 10" x 13"

About the Artist: Marshall Goodman (American, 1916–2003)

Marshall Goodman was an American painter and illustrator celebrated for his vibrant watercolors, expressive brushwork, and keen sense of narrative. Born in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1916, Goodman studied at the Rhode Island School of Design, graduating in 1940. He was awarded an Alumni Fellowship, which allowed him to travel to Mexico, where he studied with the Taller Gráfico workshop. This experience strongly influenced his use of bold color, dynamic composition, and lively human subjects.

Goodman worked extensively as a freelance artist, creating courtroom sketches, theater caricatures, magazine illustrations, and on‑location studies that captured the immediacy of social and cultural life. His paintings often depict bustling public interiors—cafés, bars, theaters—where figures are rendered with fluid spontaneity and an almost journalistic attention to gesture and atmosphere.

Over his long career, Goodman exhibited in numerous galleries, and his works are held in private and public collections. His style reflects the influence of the Mexican school of painting but carries an optimistic, approachable quality that makes his work widely appealing. Today, Marshall Goodman’s paintings remain valued for their warmth, movement, and ability to tell vivid visual stories.