Amish Family

Copied W. W. Swallow, Amish Family, 1930s-1940s, terra cotta on wood base, 16 1⁄4 x 12 1⁄4 x 11 1⁄4 in. (41.4 x 31.2 x 28.7 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of International Business Machines Corporation, 1966.27.9

Artwork Details

Title
Amish Family
Artist
Date
1930s-1940s
Location
Dimensions
16 1⁄4 x 12 1⁄4 x 11 1⁄4 in. (41.4 x 31.2 x 28.7 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of International Business Machines Corporation
Mediums
Mediums Description
terra cotta on wood base
Classifications
Keywords
  • Figure group — family
Object Number
1966.27.9
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1966.27.9

Artwork Description

William W. Swallow created many sculptures of Amish people and their traditions, using unglazed terra-cotta and minimal forms to reflect the simple nature of Amish life. In this piece Swallow created a sense of closeness within the family by molding the figures from a single block. He considered all angles of the sculpture, and decorated the back of the piece with a tree and birds to suggest a rural lifestyle.