Vanity

Charles Louis Hinton, Vanity, 1915, bronze, 26 1⁄2 x 23 1⁄2 x 8 1⁄2 in. (67.2 x 59.7 x 21.7 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 1952.5.1

Artwork Details

Title
Vanity
Artist
Date
1915
Location
Dimensions
26 1⁄2 x 23 1⁄2 x 8 1⁄2 in. (67.2 x 59.7 x 21.7 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of the artist
Mediums
Mediums Description
bronze
Classifications
Subjects
  • Object — furniture — mirror
  • Allegory — quality — vanity
  • Figure female — full length
  • Figure female — nude
Object Number
1952.5.1
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1952.5.1

Artwork Description

This allegory has been a popular subject in literature and art dating back to the Middle Ages. Vanity personifies all the temptations and self-serving pleasures of the world. In Charles Louis Hinton’s version, the idealized figure has been replaced with a naturalistic, female nude. She turns her head and leans slightly back to look at her reflection. Her vanity is evident in her sensual, studied pose, which exudes beauty and self-confidence.

Works by this artist (132 items)

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Man Ray, Le Voyeur, 1965, wooden cigar box with inserted door lens, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Juliet Man Ray, 1983.105.4
Le Voyeur
Artist
Date1965
wooden cigar box with inserted door lens
On view
Man Ray, Square Dumb Bells, 1944 or 1945, cast bronze, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Juliet Man Ray, 1983.105.17A-B
Square Dumb Bells
Artist
Date1944 or 1945
cast bronze
On view
Man Ray, Fisherman's Idol, cast 1973, bronze, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Juliet Man Ray, 1983.105.7
Fisherman’s Idol
Artist
Datecast 1973
bronze
On view
Man Ray, Its Another Spring, 1961, mixed media: metal spring, ivory ball, and wooden cigar box, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Juliet Man Ray, 1983.105.6
Its Another Spring
Artist
Date1961
mixed media: metal spring, ivory ball, and wooden cigar box
On view

More Artworks from the Collection

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Robert D'Alessandro, Untitled (Women and City Theme), megatone offset, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the National Endowment for the Arts, 1983.63.361, © 1978, Robert D'Alessandro
Untitled (Women and City Theme)
Artist
megatone offset
Not on view
Paul Strand, Telegraph Pole, 1915, photogravure, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase, 1974.32.3
Telegraph Pole
Artist
Date1915
photogravure
Not on view
Unidentified, Untitled (postcard), n.d., cyanotype, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Richard and Andrea Kremer, 1996.56.3
Untitled (postcard)
Artist
Unidentified
Daten.d.
cyanotype
Not on view
Unidentified, Untitled (postcard), ca. 1906, cyanotype, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Richard and Andrea Kremer, 1996.56.10
Untitled (postcard)
Artist
Unidentified
Dateca. 1906
cyanotype
Not on view