Butchering Day

Jennie Cell, Butchering Day, ca. 1955, oil on fiberboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. James M. Mundis, 1972.55.1
Jennie Cell, Butchering Day, ca. 1955, oil on fiberboard, 16 1⁄8 x 26 1⁄2 in. (40.8 x 67.3 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. James M. Mundis, 1972.55.1

Artwork Details

Title
Butchering Day
Artist
Date
ca. 1955
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
16 1⁄8 x 26 1⁄2 in. (40.8 x 67.3 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. James M. Mundis
Mediums
Mediums Description
oil on fiberboard
Classifications
Subjects
  • Animal — pig
  • Occupation — farm — animal husbandry
  • Landscape — farm
  • Figure group — male
Object Number
1972.55.1
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1972.55.1

Artwork Description

Jennie Cell painted simple scenes of everyday life inspired by her childhood on a farm. In Butchering Day a group of people clean, dry, cut, and cook meat, and in Pruning Time, men trim dead branches from the trees to encourage new growth. Cell emphasized the collective spirit of activities like these, which required many hands and were occasions for friends and neighbors to help one another. The bare trees and dull colors hint at the bleakness of farm life, but the cheerful workers suggest that Cell's family supported each other through the hard times.

Works by this artist (8 items)

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Daniel Huntington, Unidentified, Perry Transferring His Flag to the Niagara, late 19th century, oil and pencil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. George B. Tatum, 1974.21
Perry Transferring His Flag to the Niagara
Artist
Unidentified
Copy after Daniel Huntington
Datelate 19th century
oil and pencil on canvas
Not on view
Image Not Available
Lady Washington’s Reception
Artist
Daten.d.
color lithograph
Not on view
Daniel Huntington, Benjamin Hazard Field, 1887, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of International Business Machines Corporation, 1966.80.2
Benjamin Hazard Field
Artist
Date1887
oil on canvas
Not on view
Daniel Huntington, A Swiss Lake, 1849, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase, 1978.70
A Swiss Lake
Artist
Date1849
oil on canvas
Not on view

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Eugene Von Bruenchenhein, Untitled, ca. 1945-1950, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Lewis and Jean Greenblatt, 2002.86.7
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Dateca. 1945-1950
gelatin silver print
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Jared French, Margaret French, PaJaMa, Paul Cadmus, PaJaMa (Box A), ca. 1937, gelatin silver prints, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Margaret French, 1999.98.5.16
PaJaMa (Box A)
Artist
Dateca. 1937
gelatin silver prints
Not on view