Artist:

Morris Graves, born Fox Valley, OR 1910-died Loleta, CA 2001  Search this

Medium:

ink wash and gouache on paper

Dimensions:

sheet: 29 3/8 x 23 3/4 in. (74.6 x 60.3 cm)

Type:

Drawing

Date:

ca. 1942-1943

Exhibition Label:

As a master of contemplative, spiritual expression, Graves used natural forms to symbolize his state of mind and inner vision. The bird with folded wings seems to emerge from his transcendent imagination, the artist’s “inner eye,” rather than from direct observation. The transparent, abstract image suggests an engraving in the face of a rock, worn away by time and weather, at once fading and accumulating new meaning.

Graphic Masters II: Highlights from the Smithsonian American Art Museum, 2009

Topic:

Landscape\celestial\moon  Search this

Animal\bird  Search this

State of being\emotion\sorrow  Search this

Allegory\other\memory  Search this

Animal\other\skeleton  Search this

Credit Line:

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Michael and Caryl Marsh

Object number:

1969.78

Restrictions & Rights:

Usage conditions apply

See more items in:

Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection

Department:

Graphic Arts

Data Source:

Smithsonian American Art Museum

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/vk70a34f9d2-5c4f-4a19-a999-58c445343b40

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:saam_1969.78