Prints for Paupers (Sort of)

Usually, Laguna Beach is known as a place to shop for works by local artists. But this month, one gallery has decided to bring in some of the biggest names in early 20th century art. An exhibit titled “Modern Masters” features pieces by Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Joan Miro and Henri Matisse on display and for sale at the Fingerhut Gallery.

Owner Allan Fingerhut spent almost three years putting the show together. A portion of the exhibit is drawn from his personal collection; the rest is on consignment from private collectors throughout the country.

Priced from $4,000 to $41,000, the pieces afford art lovers a chance to just browse or bring home a piece of history.

“These prints have been on the market continuously for years,” Fingerhut said. “When most of these lithographs were made, it was the artist’s intention to make these paintings affordable to the public. What we’re offering is several signed and numbered lithographs, but, depending on the artist, there could be hundreds more or just a few more available to the public.”

“Most of these works can only be viewed in a museum,” said Cornelia Hoskin, a spokeswoman for the gallery. “People who visit the gallery are very surprised to see these paintings available to the public. They’ve been calling to see if there’s an admission fee.”

The four artists’ works are presented throughout the gallery’s modest-sized upper and lower levels. The free exhibit offers water-colored etchings and lithographs, including a collection of hand-signed sepia-tone lithos by Matisse.

Take a glimpse at Matisse’s abstracts and the minimal number of lines he used in his portraits. “Matisse was known for his ability to combine colors, but some of these portraits are great examples of how he enjoyed playing with negative space,” Hoskin said.

The show also includes a few surprises. Picasso’s “Le Chapeau a Fleurs” and “Portrait of a Woman” are just a few illustrations from the Gongora series (1948), compiled in a limited-edition book that contained portraits by Picasso and a collection of writings by 16th century Spanish poet Luis de Gongora.

Unlike the dark overtones of Picasso’s famous, somber “Weeping Women,” (1937) a series displayed at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles a few years ago, the Gongora women are merely stately, with melancholy expressions.

The exhibit also features seven untitled erotic lithographs Picasso created in the late 1960s. These show couples entwined, nudes and other scenes, some with animals. Because they might be offensive to some visitors, they are secluded in a private section of the gallery lest they provoke the same level of controversy that surrounded the artist’s famous “Orgy of the Minotaur.”

A number of pieces attracted special attention during the holidays because of their festive colors, Hoskin said, especially Miro’s “Cracheur de Flammes” (Fire Eater of Flames) and a series of biblical lithographs autographed by Chagall. The Chagall series contains 105 black-and-white etchings with water color that took the Russian artist more than 30 years to complete.

Works by Picasso seem to be the most popular, but all the artists are drawing their share of the limelight, and that pleases Fingerhut.

A few years ago he sold art to other galleries, but now that he has his own place, he said, he’s beginning to like the idea of playing mediator.

“I love selling rare artworks at my gallery because there is such a small group of art lovers who know what is actually available to the public. So it’s a great feeling knowing that people are happy to see it offered [at Fingerhut Gallery],” he said.

As for parting with some of his collection, he remains philosophical.

“Trading art is very addictive,” he said. “I’m a compulsive collector. Some of those portraits, like the Miro, I’ve had for 20 years. And over 20 years they have increased considerably in their value. But you can only own so much art before you have to sell older pieces to buy new ones. “

BE THERE

“Modern Masters” at the Fingerhut Gallery, 210A Forest Ave., Laguna Beach. Continues through Jan. 31. Hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Wednesday; noon-6 p.m. Sunday. Free. (949) 376-6410.