GRACE GLUECK: The New York Times: Weekend: Art Guide: Galleries: SoHo: Karen Gunderson: Friday December 11,1998

Karen Gunderson, “Kings,” Donahue/Sosinski Art, 560 Broadway, at Prince Street, (212) 226-1111 (through Dec 19)

Five kings from history who score high in social or esthetic consciousness are the subject of Ms. Gunderson’s all-black paintings, which make skilled technical use of black as a medium for painting light.  Cleverly modulating her brush strokes to produce Stygian darkness and silver-grey luminosities, she dwells on the aspect of each king that strikes her as most worthy.  Christian X of Denmark is shown on horseback wearing a giant six-pointed star, a salute to his helping to rescue Danish Jews from the Nazis.  Ms. Gunderson is a fine illustrator, whose cleverly theatrical work is a pleasure to behold.