Harold Larry Cohen (England/California, 1928-2016) abstract oil on canvas painting depicting organic purple, red, orange, and green forms with linework in black. Signed, titled, and dated "Harold Cohen / ''IMPERIAL'' / JULY 1964 London" en verso. Stretcher with Robert Fraser Gallery, London, label and inscribed "E6499 X R FRAZER." Housed in a thin wood frame. Canvas: 36" H x 45" W. Frame: 36 3/8" H x 45 1/2" W. Note: Photocopies of relevant pages from a 1980 institutional publication with provenance history are included in the image sequence. Exhibition history (according to 1980 institutional publication): Whitechapel Gallery, London; May-June 1965; cat. no. 53.

Biographical note: Harold Cohen studied painting at the Slade School of Fine Arts in London. By the mid-1960s he had established himself as an abstract painter with an international reputation, representing Britain at the Venice and Paris Biennales. He subsequently moved to the United States and from 1973-1975 he worked at the Laboratory for Artificial Intelligence at Stanford University, where he developed the AARON computer program. Besides instructions on form and color the program also takes into account what AARON has previously drawn, thus making it highly complex. AARON is said to be the first robot in human history to create art, the world''s first pure A.I. artist. (Adapted from the Victoria and Albert Museum).

PROVENANCE: Deaccessioned by a Southern institution to benefit the acquisitions fund; Acquired from Robert Fraser Gallery, London, 1965.

CONDITION: Faint stretcher marks to edges plus scattered abrasions, largest to lower center, 6" L, along with minor scattered accretions, largest to lower left, 4" x 1 1/4". 1 1/4" L retouch to lower right of green form.