John McLaughlin Original American Abstract California Minimalism Hard Edge Vintage Oil Painting Torso
Original vintage California minimalism hard-edge painting, by American abstract artist John McLaughlin. The subject is similar in subject to Kazimir Malevich's "Torso" where the human body is divided vertically into two haves on a flat plane, one red, and one white." John McLaughlin was heavily influenced by the Russian Suprematism and Russian avant-garde painter, Kazimir Malevich. There is a stylistic element of hard edge within the confines of the head and body, as well. The painting is in good condition but could use a professional cleaning. There are a couple of areas that may need minor restorations. The painting is signed in the lower left corner, in black. The painting's measurements alone, sans frame are approximately 18" X 24". The frame is the original 1950s white-washed, with a tinge of baby-blue, solid wood frame. There is a label verso from Standard Brands Paint stores with the original price tag from the 1950s-1960s. This store was a chain in Southern California with the flagship/main store in Torrance (in Los Angeles County).
John Dwyer McLaughlin (May 21, 1898 – March 22, 1976) was an American abstract painter renowned for his minimalist and hard-edge paintings. Born in Sharon, Massachusetts, McLaughlin developed an early appreciation for Asian art, frequently visiting the Boston Museum of Fine Arts with his parents to explore its extensive Asian collections. This early exposure profoundly influenced his artistic vision.
Before fully dedicating himself to painting, McLaughlin led a multifaceted life. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War I and later worked as a dealer of Japanese prints, operating a gallery called The Tokaido, Inc. in Boston. His deepening engagement with Japanese culture led him to study the language and serve as a translator for the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II, with assignments in Japan, China, and Burma. In recognition of his meritorious service, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal in 1945.
McLaughlin's artistic career began in earnest in the late 1940s when he settled in Dana Point, California. Self-taught and starting his painting career relatively late, he quickly became a pivotal figure in the Southern California art scene. His work is characterized by geometric abstraction, often featuring precise rectangular forms and a restrained color palette. McLaughlin was significantly influenced by European modernists such as Kazimir Malevich and Piet Mondrian, whose explorations of pure abstraction resonated with his own artistic pursuits.
While McLaughlin's oeuvre does not prominently feature figurative works or direct homages to other artists' specific paintings, his admiration for Malevich's abstract forms is evident in his commitment to non-representational art. McLaughlin's paintings aim to create contemplative experiences, encouraging viewers to engage with the "marvelous void"—a concept derived from his appreciation of Asian art and philosophy.
Throughout his career, McLaughlin participated in several significant exhibitions. Notably, he was part of the "Four Abstract Classicists" exhibition in 1959, which introduced the term "hard-edge painting" to describe the crisp, geometric styles of McLaughlin and his contemporaries. His work has been collected by major institutions, including the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
Smithsonian American Art Museum.
John McLaughlin's legacy lies in his disciplined approach to abstraction, his synthesis of Eastern and Western artistic philosophies, and his influence on the development of minimalist art in America.
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