thin figure in black with a large head, high forehead, large nose and long thin brown hair holding a blonde-haired doll in a white dress; purplish-brown ground

%C2%A9 2007 Stacey Davidson

Sometimes a Tender Thing is Just Out of Sight (Knecht Ruprecht), 2007

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Stacey Davidson creates marvelously expressive figural drawings modeled after character dolls of her own invention that she produces in her studio. She assigns each of her dolls a fictional persona based on gender, physical characteristics, and mode of dress. They serve as characters for her various portraits and narrative scenes, and in life, represent a full spectrum of human personalities.

In Germanic folklore, the scruffy character Knecht Ruprecht is one of several sinister companions to Saint Nicholas (Father Christmas). Traditionally portrayed as a servant, farmhand, or foundling, Ruprecht meted out punishments to misbehaving children that ranged from a lump of coal left in a stocking to beatings, kidnapping, and murder. For Davidson, Ruprecht is primarily menacing, yet capable of moments of tenderness. Here, he carries what appears to be a doll, but the scene is ominous, given our knowledge of Ruprecht's cruel ways.

Details
Title
Sometimes a Tender Thing is Just Out of Sight (Knecht Ruprecht)
Artist Life
born 1961
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2007.121
Provenance
The artist; Marlborough Gallery, New York
Curator Approved

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thin figure in black with a large head, high forehead, large nose and long thin brown hair holding a blonde-haired doll in a white dress; purplish-brown ground

© 2007 Stacey Davidson

Because of © restrictions, we can only show you a small image of this artwork.