“To me it seems a dreadful indignity to have a soul controlled by geography.” – George Santayana, The Life of Reason, 1905. From the series Great Ideas of Western Man.

David Walsh, "To me it seems a dreadful indignity to have a soul controlled by geography."--George Santayana, The Life of Reason, 1905. From the series Great Ideas of Western Man., 1963, acrylic on paper mounted on wood, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Container Corporation of America, 1984.124.301

David Walsh, "To me it seems a dreadful indignity to have a soul controlled by geography."--George Santayana, The Life of Reason, 1905. From the series Great Ideas of Western Man., 1963, acrylic on paper mounted on wood, sheet: 15 ⁷⁄₈ x 13 ¹⁄₂ in. (40.3 x 34.2 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Container Corporation of America, 1984.124.301

Artwork Details

Title: “To me it seems a dreadful indignity to have a soul controlled by geography.” – George Santayana, The Life of Reason, 1905. From the series Great Ideas of Western Man.
Artist: David Walsh
Date: 1963
Location: Not on view
Dimensions: sheet: 15 ⁷⁄₈ x 13 ¹⁄₂ in. (40.3 x 34.2 cm)
Credit Line: Gift of Container Corporation of America
Mediums: acrylic
Mediums Description: acrylic on paper mounted on wood
Classifications: Painting
Subjects: Abstract — geometric
Object Number: 1984.124.301
Linked Open Data: https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1984.124.301

Works by this artist (5 items)

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Oscar Peterson, Untitled, ca. 1940, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase, 1997.124.199

Artist

Dateca. 1940

Oscar Peterson, Perch Decoy, ca. 1935-1944, carved and painted wood and metal, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr. and museum purchase made possible by Ralph Cross Johnson, 1986.65.45

Artist

Dateca. 1935-1944

carved and painted wood and metal

Oscar Peterson, Trout Decoy, ca. 1930s, carved, painted, and varnished wood; painted plated iron sheet; painted ferrous tacks; and lead weights, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Alastair B. Martin, 1999.67.13

Artist

Dateca. 1930s

carved, painted, and varnished wood; painted plated iron sheet; painted ferrous tacks; and lead weights

Oscar Peterson, Pollywog Decoy, ca. 1920s, carved and painted wood, brass sheet, painted ferrous tack eyes, ferrous eye hook, and painted lead weight, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Alastair B. Martin, 1999.67.11

Artist

Dateca. 1920s

carved and painted wood, brass sheet, painted ferrous tack eyes, ferrous eye hook, and painted lead weight

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Maurice Beson, Fish Decoy, 20th century, carved and painted wood; painted, tinned iron sheet; and lead weight, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Alastair B. Martin, 1999.67.8

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Attributed to Maurice Beson

Date20th century

carved and painted wood; painted, tinned iron sheet; and lead weight

Unidentified, Fish Decoy, 20th century, carved, incised, pyroengraved, and stained wood; galvanized iron sheet; ferrous eye hook; lead weight; and glass eye, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Alastair B. Martin, 1999.67.9

Artist

Unidentified

Date20th century

carved, incised, pyroengraved, and stained wood; galvanized iron sheet; ferrous eye hook; lead weight; and glass eye

Unidentified (American), Fish Decoy, ca. 1930s, carved and painted wood, tinned and painted iron sheet metal, and lead weights, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Alastair B. Martin, 1999.67.1

Artist

Unidentified (American)

Dateca. 1930s

carved and painted wood, tinned and painted iron sheet metal, and lead weights

Abraham Goulette, Perch Decoy, ca. 1920s, carved and painted wood, painted tinned iron sheet, non-ferrous eye hook, painted ferrous tack eyes, and lead weight, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Alastair B. Martin, 1999.67.18

Artist

Abraham Goulette

Dateca. 1920s

carved and painted wood, painted tinned iron sheet, non-ferrous eye hook, painted ferrous tack eyes, and lead weight