Jack Hamilton Bush 1909 - 1977

The Estate of Jack Bush

New York, Andre Emerich Gallery

Calgary, New Zones Gallery of Contemporary Art

Cologne, Germany, Galerie Wentzel

Jack Bush in Retrospect, Kenworth W. Moffett, published in Jack Bush, Toronto, 1984, p. 34

This painting has been viewed under U.V. and it is in excellent condition. There is a scuff mark in the upper blue portion, a line approximately 24 in. long running diagonally towards the centre of the painting. We would like to thank "In Restauro Conservart Inc." for examing this painting and their original notes are available upon request to Sotheby's.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Blue Green Thrust, an early work from 1959, presents Jack Bush's  brave, inventive use application of paint and his strength as a colourist. Where he sometimes relies on bright, chromatic and sometimes acidic hues, he has limited his palette in this painting to a variety of earth tones within the same tonal range. The colour is translucent and appears luminous, and is applied freely with broad brush strokes. The result is an active, pleasing and forceful composition that is deceptively simple in its arrangement of five or six layered forms.

Kenworth W. Moffett comments that it was: "In 1959 came the first good Thrust pictures. Then Jack made some detours: the Flower paintings and the Cross and Flag paintings. These have more character, but aren't yet very good and it is only by keeping with the Thrust pictures that Jack finally got going."

This painting is one of the good pictures that he refers to, and lays the foundation for Jack Bush's career as an internationally recognized painter. In fact, it was the painting that Andre Emerich chose to illustrate onthe exhibition poster for Jack Bush Paintings 1959–1974, from October 7 – October 25, 1978.