An oil on masonite board painting attributed to Gertrude Abercrombie and depicting a composition with a shell in a desert, 1968, painted in the style of Magical Realism. Signed by the artist and dated lower right. One of a kind artwork. Provenance: Private collection from Houston Texas. Gertrude Abercrombie, 1909 to 1977, was an American painter based in Chicago. Called the queen of the bohemian artists, Abercrombie was involved in the Chicago jazz scene and was friends with musicians such as Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, and Sarah Vaughan, whose music inspired her own creative work. Her work evolved into incorporating her love for jazz music, inspired by parties and jam sessions she hosted in her Hyde Park home. Her works are painted in a precise, controlled style. She took little interest in other artists work, although she admired Magritte. Musicians such as Sonny Rollins, Max Roach, Jackie Cain and the Modern Jazz Quartet were considered friends. American Mid Century Fine Art For Collectors.