The Sisters

Frank von der Lancken, The Sisters, 1903, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Julian and Carl von der Lancken, 1975.93.1
Frank von der Lancken, The Sisters, 1903, oil on canvas, 15 7813 in. (40.233.0 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Julian and Carl von der Lancken, 1975.93.1

Artwork Details

Title
The Sisters
Date
1903
Dimensions
15 7813 in. (40.233.0 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Julian and Carl von der Lancken
Mediums
Mediums Description
oil on canvas
Classifications
Subjects
  • Landscape — farm
  • Occupation — domestic — sewing
  • Architecture — detail — porch
  • Figure group — family — siblings
Object Number
1975.93.1

Artwork Description

Frank von der Lancken spent summers in New Milford, Connecticut, from around 1900 until 1904. The fresh air and slower pace offered a welcome break from the pressure of exhibiting and teaching in New York City. This portrait of his mother and aunt shows the two French sisters quietly sewing in the cool shade of a porch, the sun-drenched Connecticut fields behind them. The composition allowed von der Lancken to show off his skills at both landscape and figural painting. The scene of women sewing on the porch of a tidy, well-built farmhouse highlighted the artist’s belief in craft. Von der Lancken taught at many progressive art schools, where his teaching was inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement’s revival of traditional techniques.

Works by this artist (231 items)

Sean Scully, Maesta, 1983, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2004.1A-C, © 1983, Sean Scully
Maesta
Date1983
oil on canvas
On view
Sean Scully, Pomes Penyeach (by James Joyce), 1993, book, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 2001.79.44.1-13, © 1993, Sean Scully
Pomes Penyeach (by James Joyce)
Date1993
book
Not on view
Sean Scully, Untitled (print # 4), from the portfolio Five Unions, 1996, etching, aquatint, sugarlift, and spitbite on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 2001.79.66.4, © 1996, Sean Scully
Untitled (print # 4), from the portfolio Five Unions
Date1996
etching, aquatint, sugarlift, and spitbite on paper
Not on view

More Artworks from the Collection

Claire Falkenstein, City is Man, 1941-1952, linocut, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of The Falkenstein Foundation, 2019.27.14, ©1997, The Falkenstein Foundation
City is Man
Date1941-1952
linocut
Not on view
Claire Falkenstein, Untitled, 1976, embossed paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of The Falkenstein Foundation, 2019.27.18, ©1997, The Falkenstein Foundation
Untitled
Date1976
embossed paper
Not on view
Claire Falkenstein, Mandala, 1977, lithograph, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of The Falkenstein Foundation, 2019.27.19, ©1997, The Falkenstein Foundation
Mandala
Date1977
lithograph
Not on view
Les Quais de la Seine a Paris
Date1917
hand-colored etching on postcard
Not on view