Aunt Nettie

Jon Serl, Aunt Nettie, 1987, paint on plywood, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 1997.124.34, © 2000, Randall Morris
Copied Jon Serl, Aunt Nettie, 1987, paint on plywood, framed: 62 1⁄4 x 22 1⁄4 x 1 1⁄2 in. (158.1 x 56.5 x 3.7 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 1997.124.34, © 2000, Randall Morris

Artwork Details

Title
Aunt Nettie
Artist
Date
1987
Location
Dimensions
framed: 62 1⁄4 x 22 1⁄4 x 1 1⁄2 in. (158.1 x 56.5 x 3.7 cm.)
Copyright
© 2000, Randall Morris
Credit Line
Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment
Mediums
Mediums Description
paint on plywood
Classifications
Keywords
  • Figure female — full length
  • Portrait female — unidentified — Aunt Nettie
Object Number
1997.124.34
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1997.124.34

Artwork Description

Jon Serl often painted scenes from his memories. Aunt Nettie comes from Serl’s days as a vaudeville actor, when he sometimes dressed as a woman. Serl used colors to express his thoughts and feelings, believing them a better way to communicate than words. He believed that his work was uncomplicated but that it possessed a soul that made it come alive. Many of Serl’s works show people in everyday gatherings and celebrations; Aunt Nettie is dressed for some such event with her purse, hat, and gloves.