It was the winter of 2004 when I bought this #painting I had been in New York City just shy of two years and had established myself as a dealer in picture frames. As a frame dealer, I really didn't think I had any business buying a painting. But to be fair I didn't buy this painting. I bought the incredible modernist frame that surrounded it.

I can still picture it. A super wide, stepped molding with a gesso finish. This style remains to this day my all time favorite. Matter of fact I bought three of those profiles yesterday but that's another story. So when the dealer told me how much for the painting, I knew I could pop off the frame and sell it at a profit. So the painting would just be a little extra. Turned out to be a lot extra. This portrait of dancer Martha Graham was painted by American artist Paul Meltsner. Back then I didn't know Meltsner's work nor did I have a means to research anything before I bought it. It was strictly buy with your eye as my mantra. And so I sold the frame to one of my off Madison Avenue gallery clients and the painting was in my West Village apartment. Till one day when I thought I'd better look up the signature. Well you could say I was surprised. I immediately sent an email to Sothebys American paintings department and they put me in touch with the Arcade. How many of you remember Sotheby's Arcade? It was a great auction division for good paintings. And this was a good painting. Gotta say that the Arcade was my go to sales venue for this and more than a few other unintentional painting purchases. Nowadays that middle market has all but disappeared. But let us not lament the past. Simply enjoy the lessons it taught us. I learned a good one that day. ;-) hkv