Animal Art Painting Appraisal

Animal Ice Hockey Scene Painting by E.B. Forsythe

This item is a framed folk art painting depicting an animated ice hockey scene, created by an artist named E.B. Forsythe, as indicated by the signature in the lower left corner. The painting features various anthropomorphic animal figures, primarily dogs and cats, engaged in a lively ice hockey game on a rink. The background shows a winter landscape with pale blue snowy hills and stylized pink trees with visible leaf or fruit details. Two black and white cows are grazing in the upper left, while a pink pig observes the game from the upper right, and another smaller pink pig and a brown animal watch from outside the rink in the foreground. The animals are depicted wearing colorful jerseys and are equipped with hockey sticks and skates. The rink itself is delineated by red boards and a blue ice surface. A scoreboard with illegible text is visible behind the goal on the right. The style is distinctly naive or folk art, characterized by flattened perspectives, simplified forms, and vibrant, non-naturalistic colors. The lines are bold and clearly defined, suggesting a deliberate cartoon-like aesthetic. The painting is housed within a simple, light-colored, possibly wooden or composite, frame that appears to be in good condition with minor wear consistent with age. There are no obvious signs of significant damage, repairs, or discoloration on the painting itself, though the image resolution is not high enough to discern fine details of brushwork or texture. The overall impression is one of whimsical charm and playful narrative. The craftsmanship appears to be consistent with amateur or self-taught artistry, emphasizing storytelling over academic technique. The estimated age could range from the mid to late 20th century, a common period for this type of folk art.