Wake

Malcah Zeldis, Wake, 1974, oil on panel, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of David L. Davies, 1992.37.11
Copied Malcah Zeldis, Wake, 1974, oil on panel, 23 1⁄2 x 31 7⁄8 in. (59.7 x 81.0 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of David L. Davies, 1992.37.11

Artwork Details

Title
Wake
Artist
Date
1974
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
23 1⁄2 x 31 7⁄8 in. (59.7 x 81.0 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of David L. Davies
Mediums
Mediums Description
oil on panel
Classifications
Keywords
  • Figure group
  • State of being — death
  • Ceremony — funeral
  • Architecture Interior — domestic — living room
Object Number
1992.37.11
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1992.37.11

Artwork Description

Malcah Zeldis enjoyed painting as a young adult but only began painting seriously when she was middle-aged. Her paintings often fuse her childhood memories and recent events. This combination leads to dream-like imagery than can be hard to situate in a certain time frame. Zeldis believes that painting helps her sort out feelings about life. In Wake she explores death with bright colors and specific details. As a child, Zeldis went to a museum and was fascinated by the detailed work of Flemish painters. That fascination stayed with her, and her work reflects a careful study of details, such as the profusion of flowers in this painting, the room's reflection in the mirror, and the subtle details of each person’s clothing.