Katharine Cornell

Copied Malvina Hoffman, Katharine Cornell, 1961, bronze on plastic covered wood base, 21 x 9 5⁄8 x 10 in. (53.3 x 24.4 x 25.4 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Charles Lamson Hoffman Family, 1985.73.5

Artwork Details

Title
Katharine Cornell
Artist
Date
1961
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
21 x 9 5⁄8 x 10 in. (53.3 x 24.4 x 25.4 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of the Charles Lamson Hoffman Family
Mediums
Mediums Description
bronze on plastic covered wood base
Classifications
Subjects
  • Portrait female — Cornell, Katherine — bust
  • Performing arts — theater — performer
Object Number
1985.73.5
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1985.73.5

Artwork Description

Katharine Cornell’s father managed a theater in Buffalo, and when Katharine was a child she wrote and performed plays for her family and friends. In her twenties, she wrote a play, and the director suggested she try acting. Her career flourished and she toured the United States several times, drawing large audiences and critical acclaim. She favored dramatic roles and had a “fiery” stage presence, which she credited to her stage fright, claiming it caused her to work even harder. Here, Malvina Hoffman shows Cornell with an intense downward gaze and voluminous, manelike hair, capturing the dramatic flair the actress was known for.

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