Tides in a Man’s Life

Beatrice Wood, Tides in a Man's Life, ca. 1988, earthenware, 11 1⁄2 x 5 1⁄2 in. (29.3 x 14.0 cm) diam., Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Kenneth R. Trapp in honor of Shelby M. Gans on the occasion of her appointment to the Board of Commissioners of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, 1996.82, © 1988, Beatrice Wood

Artwork Details

Title
Tides in a Man’s Life
Artist
Date
ca. 1988
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
11 1⁄2 x 5 1⁄2 in. (29.3 x 14.0 cm) diam.
Copyright
© 1988, Beatrice Wood
Credit Line
Gift of Kenneth R. Trapp in honor of Shelby M. Gans on the occasion of her appointment to the Board of Commissioners of the Smithsonian American Art Museum
Mediums
Mediums Description
earthenware
Classifications
Subjects
  • Figure group — nude
  • Allegory — life — manhood
Object Number
1996.82
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1996.82

Artwork Description

Tides in a Man’s Life shows the three stages of a man’s struggle to the top of Beatrice Wood’s sculpture. At first, he is shown unsuccessfully trying to climb the tall base of the sculpture. He then reappears being helped up by a woman, while the third and final stage shows him standing triumphantly atop the golden ring. Wood first began making these stick figures in the 1940s, and she did not want to define them as specific people but rather used them to focus on issues of gender.

Works by this artist (32 items)

View all artworks
Beatrice Wood, Vase, ca. 1978, earthenware with lustres, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Jane Warren Larson, 1991.140
Vase
Artist
Dateca. 1978
earthenware with lustres
On view
Beatrice Wood, Perpetual Motion, ca. 1970, glazed earthenware, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of George C. Zachary in memory of Devlin Mario Archie, 1994.104, © 1970, Radha R. Sloss, Conservator for Beatrice Wood
Perpetual Motion
Artist
Dateca. 1970
glazed earthenware
On view
Beatrice Wood, Blue Lustre Double Necked Bottle with Braided Decoration, ca. 1969, glazed earthenware, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Dorothy and George Saxe, 1995.78.4
Blue Lustre Double Necked Bottle with Braided Decoration
Artist
Dateca. 1969
glazed earthenware
On view
Beatrice Wood, Gold Lustre Teapot, 1988, earthenware with lustres, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase, 1989.26A-B
Gold Lustre Teapot
Artist
Date1988
earthenware with lustres
On view

More Artworks from the Collection

Browse All Artworks
Beatrice Wood, Small Plate from the Yellow Luncheon Service for Six, 1951, earthenware and glaze, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Howard Kottler Endowment for Ceramic Art, 2008.5.8
Small Plate from the Yellow Luncheon Service for Six
Artist
Date1951
earthenware and glaze
Not on view
Beatrice Wood, Ceramic Service for Eight (64 pieces with 10 serving pieces), ca. 1979, earthenware with lusters, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of George C. Zachary in memory of Beatrice Wood's centennial birthday and in memory of John Waller, 1993.64.1-74
Ceramic Service for Eight (64 pieces with 10 serving pieces)
Artist
Dateca. 1979
earthenware with lusters
Not on view
Beatrice Wood, Vase, ca. 1978, earthenware with lustres, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Jane Warren Larson, 1991.140
Vase
Artist
Dateca. 1978
earthenware with lustres
On view
Beatrice Wood, Large Plate from the Yellow Luncheon Service for Six, 1951, earthenware and glaze, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Howard Kottler Endowment for Ceramic Art, 2008.5.1
Large Plate from the Yellow Luncheon Service for Six
Artist
Date1951
earthenware and glaze
Not on view