Aunt Nettie

Media - 1997.124.34 - SAAM-1997.124.34_1 - 53710
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.)
Markings
lower right in brown paint: Jon back lower left in black marker: ORIGINAL/TITLE +/DATE/UNDERNEATH
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
  • Portrait
  • 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.