%C2%A9 Nicolas Africano
Graphite, charcoal, and gesso on handmade cream paperexpand_more
Gift of funds from Mary and Bob Merskyexpand_more 2018.79.2
Nicolas Africano creates mysterious drawings, paintings, and cast glass sculptures of female figures, modeled after his wife, Rebecca. This drawing is part of a recent body of work comprising large-scale graphite drawings and cast glass sculptures that portray the American actress Greta Garbo (1905–1990). In this series, Garbo takes the role of Pierrot the Clown, a comically tragic character—the original “sad clown”—who has inspired artists for centuries. Using Rebecca (“R”) as his model, Africano based the pose and costume of his figure on photographs taken in 1939 by society photographer Cecil Beaton of Garbo dressed as Pierrot. In a journal entry, Africano referenced a desire to make art with emotionally evocative content: “I am poised, still, at a threshold,” at “that moment between innocence and experience.”
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
Does something look wrong with this image? Let us know
© Nicolas Africano