Mr Cool by Jack Vettriano | Rare Artist Proof Print
Jack Vettriano's men are rarely flustered. They are sharply dressed, unhurried and very sure of themselves, at least on the surface. Mr Cool is the archetype, and the title tells you exactly what he thinks of himself.
What the painting shows
On a bright seaside promenade, a man in a white panama hat, cream shirt and high-waisted trousers leans on a white railing, one foot crossed casually over the other. A few feet away, a young woman in a pink dress and wide-brimmed hat sits on a bench, looking at him sideways. Above them a Union flag snaps in the breeze against a clear blue sky.
He is clearly trying very hard to look as if he isn't trying at all, and she can see straight through it. It is one of Vettriano's gently comic paintings, full of the small games people play at the start of a flirtation, and the 1930s seaside setting gives it a lovely period charm.
Exhibition history
Mr Cool is an oil on canvas, first exhibited in Between Darkness and Dawn, Jack Vettriano's exhibition that ran from 10 June to 10 July 1998, where it was catalogue number 20. The original painting has since been sold.
Why an Artist Proof?
This print is an Artist's Proof: one of just 15, produced in addition to the main edition of 125. With so few in existence, Artist's Proofs are often the first choice of serious collectors. Our guide to limited editions, open editions and Artist's Proofs explains the difference.
About this edition
Signed Artist's Proof, one of 15 (main edition of 125)
Signed and numbered by Jack Vettriano
Printed on 300gsm Museum Etching paper
Image size 30.5 x 38cm, mount 53 x 59cm
Supplied with a certificate of authenticity
Because Artist's Proofs come to us individually, we quote prices on application.
Where it works best
The bright blues and whites make Mr Cool a cheerful choice for a living room, hallway or coastal home. It sits well with Vettriano's other beach paintings, such as Mad Dogs.
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