Untitled [Ascension, or demonic figure?], early 20th century
Unknown artist, Italyexpand_more
Monotype printed in black on brown paperexpand_more
Gift of James A. Bergquist, Boston, in honor of Rachel McGarryexpand_more 2021.69.18
Not on Viewexpand_more
This loosely-rendered image is something of a mystery. We don't know who made it, nor do we know what the woman symbolizes. Some have suggested an accension, but it could equally be demonic. Why is her hair disheveled' Is her open mouth screaming or singing' Is that a garland suspended between her hands and draped across her lap' Are the wings her own or those of some angel or demon behind her' Does she enter through a spreading curtain or sit up high betwen gothis arches' Sometimes art leaves us completely to our own imaginations.
One this we can be condifent of--this is a monotype, a print made by adding and removing ink from a smooth hard surface until the image is ready to be transfered under pressure to a sheet of paper. Typically, this procedure yields just one or two impressions. It is an ideal medium for artists to experiment with ideas without the stress of having to make a commercially viable printing matrix.
Details
- Title
- Untitled [Ascension, or demonic figure?]
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 2021.69.18
- Curator Approved
This record is from historic documentation and may not have been reviewed by a curator, so may be inaccurate or incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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