Monolith

Dorothy Dehner, Monolith, 1965, pen and ink on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Given to the National Museum of American Art in recognition of the contributions of Adelyn Breeskin to the Washington Print Club, the National Museum of American Art, and the Washington Print Community, 1986.44
Dorothy Dehner, Monolith, 1965, pen and ink on paper, sheet: 22 3⁄4 x 31 1⁄8 in. (57.8 x 79.0 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Given to the National Museum of American Art in recognition of the contributions of Adelyn Breeskin to the Washington Print Club, the National Museum of American Art, and the Washington Print Community, 1986.44

Artwork Details

Title
Monolith
Artist
Date
1965
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
sheet: 22 3⁄4 x 31 1⁄8 in. (57.8 x 79.0 cm)
Credit Line
Given to the National Museum of American Art in recognition of the contributions of Adelyn Breeskin to the Washington Print Club, the National Museum of American Art, and the Washington Print Community
Mediums
Mediums Description
pen and ink on paper
Classifications
Subjects
  • Abstract
Object Number
1986.44
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1986.44

Artwork Description

Early in her career, while she was married to the sculptor David Smith, Dorothy Dehner made paintings, drawings, and prints. After their divorce in 1952, she too began to make sculpture, producing totemic constructions first in bronze and later in wood. The forms of Monolith invoke the solidity of the monumental sculpture, while the intricate cross-hatching that creates the forms reveals the refined drawing skills she developed before she became a sculptor.

Abstract Drawings, 2012

Works by this artist (13 items)

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Dorothy Dehner, Evil, 1948, gouache on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Dorothy Dehner Foundation for the Arts, 1999.79.1
Evil
Artist
Date1948
gouache on paper
Not on view
Dorothy Dehner, Untitled, 1976, brush and ink on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Dorothy Dehner Foundation for the Arts, 1999.79.8
Untitled
Artist
Date1976
brush and ink on paper
Not on view
Dorothy Dehner, Folk Song, 1948, gouache on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Dorothy Dehner Foundation for the Arts, 1999.79.2
Folk Song
Artist
Date1948
gouache on paper
Not on view
Dorothy Dehner, Heads #3, 1970, lithograph on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Dorothy Dehner Foundation for the Arts, 1999.79.7
Heads #3
Artist
Date1970
lithograph on paper
Not on view

More Artworks from the Collection

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Welmon Sharlhorne, Untitled (Building with Recessed Entrance and Black Foreground), ca. 1992, ink on manila envelope, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 1997.124.135
Untitled (Building with Recessed Entrance and Black…
Artist
Dateca. 1992
ink on manila envelope
Not on view
Andrea Way, Bones, 1987, ink on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Tom and Judy Brody, 2009.38.3, © 1987, Andrea Way
Bones
Artist
Date1987
ink on paper
Not on view
Carl Piwinski, Martian Worlds, ca. 1992, ink on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 1997.124.125
Martian Worlds
Artist
Dateca. 1992
ink on paper
Not on view
Christoph Voll, William H. Johnson, Heads of Two Children, ca. 1930-1938, pen and ink on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.388
Heads of Two Children
Artist
Dateca. 1930-1938
pen and ink on paper
Not on view