Half Light

Mary Pinchot Meyer, Half Light, 1964, synthetic polymer on fabric: canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Quentin and Mark Meyer, 1976.41
Mary Pinchot Meyer, Half Light, 1964, synthetic polymer on fabric: canvas, 60 1⁄8 in. (152.7 cm.) diam., Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Quentin and Mark Meyer, 1976.41

Artwork Details

Title
Half Light
Artist
Date
1964
Location
Dimensions
60 1⁄8 in. (152.7 cm.) diam.
Credit Line
Gift of Quentin and Mark Meyer
Mediums Description
synthetic polymer on fabric: canvas
Classifications
Subjects
  • Abstract
Object Number
1976.41
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1976.41

Artwork Description

In my paintings, the color is the form.
--Mary Pinchot Meyer

The tondo--or circular canvas--was a favorite format for Mary Pinchot Meyer. Half Light is divided into precise quadrants. Their colors alternate in tone and hue, with pale lavender and blue contrasting crisply with earthy olive green and brown.

Meyer used thinned paint to penetrate the fibers of the canvas, thus melding color with form. She noted that there are no lines in her paintings, only edges "where one color stops and another starts." The artist did, however, draw two tiny dots in this composition. Can you find them?

Works by this artist (731 items)

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Joseph Cornell, Untitled (Juan Gris drawing), late 1960s, collage on masonite, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation, 2002.58.20
Untitled (Juan Gris drawing)
Artist
Datelate 1960s
collage on masonite
Not on view
Joseph Cornell, Untitled (Rorschach drawing), n.d., drawing, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation, 1991.155.408
Untitled (Rorschach drawing)
Artist
Daten.d.
drawing
Not on view
Joseph Cornell, Bonjour M. Balzac (Peau de Chagrin), 1971, collage, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation, 1991.155.309
Bonjour M. Balzac (Peau de Chagrin)
Artist
Date1971
collage
Not on view
Joseph Cornell, Untitled (white cockatoo and other birds), 1969-1971, collage, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation, 1991.155.297
Untitled (white cockatoo and other birds)
Artist
Date1969-1971
collage
Not on view

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