Chicago Skyline Painting Appraisal

Chicago Skyline Watercolor Painting with Monroe Harbor

This artwork is a vertical-composition watercolor painting executed on textured paper, depicting the Chicago skyline from the perspective of Lake Michigan, likely overlooking Monroe Harbor. The piece features a prominent sailboat in the foreground with tan sails, accompanied by numerous smaller white vessels moored in the harbor. The skyline includes iconic architectural landmarks such as the Willis Tower (Sears Tower) and the Aon Center, rendered in a palette of deep blues, browns, and grays against a soft, atmospheric sky with hints of a pink and orange sunset. The brushwork is expressive and fluid, characteristic of traditional watercolor techniques where the white of the paper is used to highlight light on the water and building facades. The painting includes a cursive signature in the upper left corner of the blue water quadrant, which appears to be 'Thedford' or a similar surname. The paper shows slight natural rippling consistent with moisture application in watercolor art, and the edges of the painted area are somewhat irregular, indicating it was likely painted en plein air or in a studio without masking tape. The style suggests late 20th-century origins based on the building configuration. The condition appears fair to good, though there is some light visible toning on the margins of the paper, common for unmounted works.