Fourth of July

A. Brockie Stevenson, Fourth of July, 1971, acrylic on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Woodward Foundation, 1976.108.109
Copied A. Brockie Stevenson, Fourth of July, 1971, acrylic on canvas, 37 x 60 1⁄8 in. (94.0 x 152.8 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Woodward Foundation, 1976.108.109

Artwork Details

Title
Fourth of July
Artist
Date
1971
Location
Dimensions
37 x 60 1⁄8 in. (94.0 x 152.8 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of the Woodward Foundation
Mediums
Mediums Description
acrylic on canvas
Classifications
Subjects
  • Ceremony — holiday — Fourth of July
  • Architecture Exterior — domestic — house
  • Object — other — flag
Object Number
1976.108.109
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1976.108.109

Artwork Description

Brockie Stevenson paints distinctly American subjects, from lobster pots and flags to trains and firehouses. In Fourth of July the verticals and horizontals of the clapboard house create a dramatic stage for the large American flag, which hangs almost to the ground. The rectangular flag appears part of the building itself, the white stripes blending seamlessly with the vertical posts of the porch. The bright colors and clean lines suggest a well cared for house, but the window and door reveal only a blank interior with no evidence of life. This dark, silent view contrasts with our expectations of the Fourth of July, a day traditionally filled with color, noise, and crowds.