Figure in Black (Girl with Stripes)

Robert Motherwell, Figure in Black (Girl with Stripes), 1947, oil and paper on fiberboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Dedalus Foundation and museum purchase, 1995.2.1, © 1994 Dedalus Foundation, Inc.
Robert Motherwell, Figure in Black (Girl with Stripes), 1947, oil and paper on fiberboard, 23 7819 34 in. (60.750.2 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Dedalus Foundation and museum purchase, 1995.2.1, © 1994 Dedalus Foundation, Inc.

Artwork Details

Title
Figure in Black (Girl with Stripes)
Date
1947
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
23 7819 34 in. (60.750.2 cm.)
Copyright
© 1994 Dedalus Foundation, Inc.
Credit Line
Gift of the Dedalus Foundation and museum purchase
Mediums
Mediums Description
oil and paper on fiberboard
Classifications
Subjects
  • Figure female
  • Abstract
Object Number
1995.2.1

Artwork Description

The black stripes at the right of Figure in Black (Girl with Stripes) can be read as long, painted strokes executed by a figure who looks directly out at the viewer. In it Motherwell asserts the primal act of the artist and links the simple black stick figure with prehistoric painters who applied marks to the walls of ancient caves. In 1947 Motherwell remarked that all the figures in his paintings were self-portraits, and he related the color ochre to his childhood in Southern California. “Certain childhood impressions last a lifetime. …The color I’ve consistently used throughout my painting life has been yellow ochre, and the hills of California most of the year are yellow ochre.”

Modern Masters: Midcentury Abstraction from the Smithsonian American Art Museum, 2008

Works by this artist (11 items)

Perla de Leon, Touch Football, 1980, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Smithsonian Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Latino Center, 2016.16.10, © 1980, Perla de Leon
Touch Football
Date1980
gelatin silver print
Not on view
Perla de Leon, Pepe and Me (part 2), 1980, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Smithsonian Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Latino Center, 2016.16.9, © 1980, Perla de Leon
Pepe and Me (part 2)
Date1980
gelatin silver print
Not on view
Perla de Leon, A Hill in the South Bronx, 1980, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Smithsonian Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Latino Center, 2016.16.3, © 1980, Perla de Leon
A Hill in the South Bronx
Date1980
gelatin silver print
Not on view
Perla de Leon, My Playground, 1980, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Smithsonian Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Latino Center, 2016.16.6, © 1980, Perla de Leon
My Playground
Date1980
gelatin silver print
Not on view

More Artworks from the Collection

David Levinthal, Untitled from the series Hitler Moves East, 1975, printed 2015, Pigment print on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of an anonymous donor, 2017.32.168, © 1975, David Levinthal
Untitled from the series Hitler Moves East
Date1975, printed 2015
Pigment print on paper
Not on view
David Levinthal, Untitled from the series Hitler Moves East, 1974, printed 2015, Pigment print on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of an anonymous donor, 2017.32.156, © 1974, David Levinthal
Untitled from the series Hitler Moves East
Date1974, printed 2015
Pigment print on paper
Not on view
David Levinthal, Untitled from the series Hitler Moves East, 1974, printed 2015, Pigment print on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of an anonymous donor, 2017.32.154, © 1974, David Levinthal
Untitled from the series Hitler Moves East
Date1974, printed 2015
Pigment print on paper
Not on view