Self-Portrait

Artist Robert Gwathmey American, 1903 - 1988

Dateafter 1944

MediumLithograph, wove paper

DimensionsSight: 21 7/8 x 15 7/8 in. (55.6 x 40.3 cm)
Frame Dimensions: 29 7/8 x 23 7/8 x 1 1/8 in. (75.9 x 60.6 x 2.9 cm)

ClassificationsPrints

Credit LineDonated by Stephen J. Sills, M.D. in loving memory of his wife Nancy Mintz Sills.

Object number2008.23.4

On View

Not on view

Collections

Modern and Contemporary Art
Works on Paper

SignedWritten in cursive letters with pencil across the lower visible edge of the print, "9/50" (LL), "Self-Portrait" (CTR), "Gwathmey" (LR)". Also signed in the plate (or stone) with the artist's initials "R.G." to the left of the front figure's mid-back.

MarkingsOn the frame backing paper, stamped in black ink, bottom center, "MILLER ART & FRAME/THE PILLARS 84 MAIN ST./ WARRENSBURG, N.Y. 12885/(518) 623-3966" with a cypher of the letter M, A and F to the left.

DescriptionOutline drawing. A balding male figure seated on the floor with his back to the viewer, his head turned over his right shoulder to look at the viewer. This figure has his right arm extended out and holds a pencil in his right hand. A drawing board rest on this legs. In the mid-ground of the image a standing male figure wearing a brimmed hat and what appear to be overalls has his back to the viewer. He is carrying a hoe like a yoke over his shoulders and holds each end with a raised hand. He appears to be looking towards a picture that is lying in front of him on its side. This picture shows a figure that looks like the observer, with overalls and hat, again, with back to the viewer, looking at a row of tobacco plants and grasping one with his right hand. He is "topping” the plant removing the flowering part. A second figure in this image faces toward this figure but has no facial features and is reaching towards a plant in a similar way. This picture is resting against another painting that faces away from the viewer with only the rear stretchers visible. This image appears to be the painting for the serigraph "Topping Tobacco" published by Gwathmey in 1947 (see file).

Above the figure in overalls is a circle with the head of a rooster in it overlapping two letters/numbers the second of which is "3", the first may be "S" or "5".

In the upper left is an image of a print of a crow or raven, possibly dead, probably drawn from a Japanese woodblock print. Below this is a sheet with a leaf drawn or printed on it.

Printed on a good quality wove paper typical of limited edition artist's prints.

Narrow black-painted wooden frame, probably a bleached oak which has noticeable grain striations and the lighter color of the bottom layer of finish shows through the black, possibly intentionally. The frame molding is narrow with a plain bevel on the outer and inner edges of the front face. Double mat with bottom mat making a narrow black edge (about 1/4") wide and a cream colored front mat about 3 inches wide.