Blue Complex

Manierre Dawson, Blue Complex, 1912, oil on paperboard mounted on wood, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Manierre Dawson, 1970.102
Copied Manierre Dawson, Blue Complex, 1912, oil on paperboard mounted on wood, 1821 34 in. (45.755.3 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Manierre Dawson, 1970.102

Artwork Details

Title
Blue Complex
Date
1912
Dimensions
1821 34 in. (45.755.3 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Mrs. Manierre Dawson
Mediums Description
oil on paperboard mounted on wood
Classifications
Keywords
  • Abstract
  • Landscape
Object Number
1970.102

Artwork Description

Manierre Dawson’s training in mathematics and architecture inspired works such as Blue Complex, which is composed of building-like structures, angles, and curves. The towering gray shapes suggest a futuristic cityscape of steel and concrete that was probably inspired by the skyline of Chicago. Dawson was one of the first American artists to create abstract images, which he described as “arbitrarily constructed paintings of arranged figures.” He often began with recognizable images, such as people or landscapes, then fragmented the forms to create two-dimensional patterns. (Adams and Ploog, Manierre Dawson: American Pioneer of Abstract Art, 1999)