Like Father, Like Son from the Blue Boy Set

Howard Kottler, Like Father, Like Son from the Blue Boy Set, 1969, porcelain, silver, and applied decals, 1 ¹⁄₄ x 10 ⁷⁄₈ in. (3.2 x 27.6 cm.) diam., Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Howard Kottler Testamentary Trust, 1991.194.4B

Artwork Details

Title: Like Father, Like Son from the Blue Boy Set
Artist: Howard Kottler
Date: 1969
Location: Smithsonian American Art Museum
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Luce Foundation Center
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4th Floor
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53B
Dimensions: 1 ¹⁄₄ x 10 ⁷⁄₈ in. (3.2 x 27.6 cm.) diam.
Credit Line: Gift of the Howard Kottler Testamentary Trust
Mediums: silver
porcelain
Mediums Description: porcelain, silver, and applied decals
Classifications: Decorative Arts
Subjects: Figure group — male
Object Number: 1991.194.4B
Linked Open Data: https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1991.194.4B

Artwork Description

In Like Father Like Son, Howard Kottler shrinks one of the images of Gainsborough’s Blue Boy to create a false relationship between the two figures. This is an example of how Kottler often distorted the original images of his decals in order to blur the line between reality and illusion.