“White Chrysanthemum Spray” — Sculptural Impasto Floral by Jack Herland | Mid-Century Acrylic on Paper

A beautifully sculpted impasto floral study by Jack Herland (1919–2005) featuring three delicate white chrysanthemums on a warm rose-taupe paper ground. Herland’s signature blend of raised impasto petals, stylized leaves, and Eastern-inspired linework creates a serene decorative artwork ideal for collectors of mid-century botanical art and textural modernism.
Offered exclusively by Artfind Gallery, Washington DC.

DETAILED ARTWORK DESCRIPTION

Jack Herland (1919–2005)
Untitled White Chrysanthemum Spray — Impasto Acrylic on Paper
c. 1970s–1980s | Signed lower right “Herland”
Ex–Mitch Moore Gallery, NYC

This refined impasto acrylic by Jack Herland presents an expressive spray of three white chrysanthemums, their petals sculpted in raised impasto that gives the flowers a porcelain-like dimensionality. The feathery radial strokes characteristic of chrysanthemum blooms are handled with remarkable delicacy—each petal curling and extending in rhythmic arcs.

Set against a warm rose-taupe ground, the luminous white blossoms become the visual focal point, while the accompanying leaves, rendered in sepia-gray washes and outlined with elegant linear accents, introduce depth and tonal balance. The stems are slender, understated, and gestural—echoing the influence of Chinese brushwork that Herland absorbed under Professor Wang Chi Yuan.

The composition is vertical and airy, with blossoms appearing to float upward, creating a sense of movement and botanical grace. This piece is especially notable for the interplay between Herland’s sculptural impasto petals and the softer watercolor-like shading of the leaves, merging his dual expertise in textural acrylic and fluid brush technique.

This work is a superb representative of Herland's mid-century floral oeuvre: serene, decorative, textural, and stylistically hybrid.

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY — JACK HERLAND (1919–2005)

Born in Germany and immigrating to New York at age sixteen, Jack Herland developed a distinctive artistic voice informed by modernist design and Chinese classical techniques. His formative studies included:

• John Groth — expressive drawing and gesture

• Stuart Davis — abstraction and modern visual structure

• Professor Wang Chi Yuan — Chinese ink painting, line philosophy, and compositional minimalism

After serving in the U.S. Army during WWII, Herland pursued painting while also working in design fields such as hand-decorated china, lamp industry consulting, and teaching painting in adult education programs. His floral works—particularly his sculptural impasto botanicals—became widely recognized through Mitch Moore Gallery in New York City, which represented him for many years.

Selected Exhibitions

• National Arts Club, New York

• China Institute, New York

• Hudson Museum

• Riverdale Neighborhood House

Herland’s work continues to be cherished for its meditative quality, delicate craftsmanship, and balance of Eastern and Western influences.

Jack Herland (1919–2005)
Untitled White Chrysanthemum Spray
Impasto Acrylic on Paper
Signed lower right
Provenance: Mitch Moore Gallery → Private Collection → Artfind Gallery

A sculptural mid-century impasto floral with three white chrysanthemums and shaded leaves.

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

Artist: Jack Herland (1919–2005)
Title: White Chrysanthemum Spray (assigned catalog title)
Medium: Impasto Acrylic on Paper
Dimensions: Approx. 26 × 20 inches
Signature: Lower right, “Herland”
Date: c. 1970s–1980s

Condition:
Excellent vintage condition; impasto stable, no discoloration, paper well preserved.

Provenance:

1. Jack Herland (Artist)

2. Mitch Moore Gallery, NYC

3. Private Collection

4. Artfind Gallery, Washington DC — Current Owner

PROVENANCE CHAIN

1. Jack Herland

2. Mitch Moore Gallery, New York City

3. Private Collection

4. Artfind Gallery, Washington DC — Current Owner