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D0999
(Untitled)
1943
Crayon and graphite pencil on paper
20 3/4 x 27 7/16 in. (52.7 x 69.7 cm)
Recto, in pencil, lower left: A. Gorky / 43
Verso not inscribed
Verso not inscribed
Provenance
Exhibitions
1945a New York likely
Julien Levy Gallery, New York, Arshile Gorky, March 6–31, 1945. (Exhibition brochure: Breton 1945b).Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, Arshile Gorky Memorial Exhibition, January 5–February 18, 1951, no. 72, p. 48. Traveled to: Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, March 4–April 22, 1951; San Francisco Museum of Art, California, May 9–July 9, 1951.
Princeton University Art Museum, New Jersey, Arshile Gorky: A Loan Exhibition of Paintings and Drawings, October 6–26, 1952.
XXXI Biennale di Venezia: Internazionale d'Arte, U.S. Pavillion, Venice, Italy, Arshile Gorky, June 16–October 7, 1962, no. 34, p. 114, as "Disegno".
Museum of Modern Art, New York, Arshile Gorky, 1904–1948, December 19, 1962–February 12, 1963. (Exhibition catalogue: Seitz 1962), no. 52, ill. in b/w, p. 29; p. 54, as "Drawing". Traveled to: Washington Gallery of Modern Art, D.C., March 12–April 14, 1963.
M. Knoedler & Co. Inc, New York, Gorky: Drawings, November 25–December 27, 1969. (Exhibition catalogue: Jordan 1969), no. 66, ill. in b/w, (repr. upside down), p. 35; p. 58, as "Drawing".
University Art Museum, University of Texas at Austin, Arshile Gorky: Drawings to Paintings, October 12–November 23, 1975. (Exhibition catalogue: University of Texas at Austin 1975), p. 107, as "Untitled," n.d. Traveled to: San Francisco Museum of Art, December 4, 1975–January 12, 1976; Neuberger Museum, Purchase College, State University of New York, February 10–March 14, 1976; Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute, Utica, New York, April 4–May 9, 1976.
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, From the American Collection, September 30–November 20, 1977, as "Untitled".
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, From the American Collection: New Additions, November 22, 1977–January 8, 1978, as "Untitled".
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, Collection: Art in America After World War II, January 18–February 25, 1979, as "Untitled".
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, Contemporary Americans: Museum Collection and Recent Acquisitions, January 22–April 12, 1981, no. 6, as "Untitled".
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, Arshile Gorky 1904–1948: A Retrospective, April 24–July 19, 1981, no. 157, ill. in color, p. 186, as "Untitled". Traveled to: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, September 12–November 6, 1981; Los Angeles County Museum of Art, December 3, 1981–February 28, 1982.
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, The New York School: Four Decades, Guggenheim Museum Collection and Major Loans, July 1–August 29, 1982, no. 15, ill. in b/w, as "Untitled".
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, Viewpoints: Postwar Painting and Sculpture from the Guggenheim Museum Collection and Major Loans, December 9, 1988–January 22, 1989.
Sala de Exposiciones de la Fundación Caja de Pensiones, Madrid, Arshile Gorky, 1904–1948, October 17–December 23, 1989, no. 75, ill. in color, p. 147, as "Untitled". Traveled to: Whitechapel Art Gallery, London, January 19–March 25, 1990.
Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami, A Claim to Primacy: American painting of the postwar era from the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, October 11–December 9, 1990, ill. in color, p. 11, as "Untitled".
Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth and Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo (organizers), Arshile Gorky: The Breakthrough Years, 1995–96, no. 28, ill. in color, p. 145, as "Untitled". Traveled to: National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., May 7–September 17, 1995; Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, New York, October 13–December 31, 1995; Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Texas, January 13–March 17, 1996.
Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, Arshile Gorky: A Retrospective of Drawings, November 20, 2003–February 15, 2004, no. 74, ill. in color, p. 140; p. 243, as "Untitled," [exhibited in New York only]. Traveled to: Menil Collection, Houston, March 5–May 9, 2004.
Philadelphia Museum of Art, Arshile Gorky: A Retrospective, October 15, 2009–January 10, 2010. (Exhibition catalogue: Taylor 2009a), pl. 112, ill. in color, p. 273; p. 390, as "Untitled (Virginia Landscape)," [exhibited in Philadelphia only]. Traveled to: Tate Modern, London, February 10–May 3, 2010 (Gale 2010); Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, June 6–September 20, 2010 (Gale 2010).
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, Artistic License: Six Takes on the Guggenheim Collection, May 24, 2019–January 12, 2020, as "Untitled".
Literature
Levy, Julien. Arshile Gorky. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1966. Monograph, pl. 109, ill. in b/w (upside down), p. 133, as "Drawing".
"Acquisitions." The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum 1977 Annual Report (New York) (1977), ill. in b/w, p. 18, as "Untitled".
Barnett, Vivian Endicott. Handbook: The Guggenheim Collection, 1900–1980. New York: The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, 1980, no. 198, ill. in color, p. 415.
Jordan, Jim M. "Gorky at the Guggenheim." Art Journal (New York) 41, no. 3 (Fall 1981), fig. 18, ill. in b/w, p. 262, as "Untitled".
Waldman, Diane. "Arshile Gorky: Poet in Paint." In Arshile Gorky 1904–1948: A Retrospective. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc. in collaboration with The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, 1981. Exhibition catalogue, discussed p. 54, as "Untitled".
Lader, Melvin P. Arshile Gorky. New York: Abbeville Press, 1985. Monograph, fig. 77, ill. in color, p. 81, as "Untitled".
Matttison, Robert S. Arshile Gorky: Works and Writings. Barcelona: Ediciones Polígrafica, 2009. Monograph, ill. in color, p. 70, as "Untitled (Virginia Landscape)".
Notes
Watermark / Stamp: Royal Watercolor Society (R.W.S.)
Handmade paper with blindstamp, upper left [reversed]: [crown] R.W.S. / 1804 6 PALL MALL EAST / [GUARANTEED] / [PURE PAPER]
Verso, in pencil, center left [not in artist's hand]: Mrs Metzger / Book binders tape [sideways]; lower right: 250
The verso inscription information and marking are known from a photograph provided by the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York.
Commentary
Having reduced his activity as a dealer during the early years of the war, Julien Levy (1906–1981) moved his gallery to its final location of 42 East 57th Street in March 1943. He signed a contract with Gorky in December 1944. Levy had known Gorky for over ten years at this point, without having shown an interest in representing his work. He offered the artist a contract following a recommendation from André Breton (1896–1966), who promised to write an introductory essay to Gorky’s debut solo show, which opened in March 1945.1 This drawing is among the first selection of works that Levy received from the artist on December 21, 1944.
This drawing is among the first selection of works that Levy received from the artist on December 21, 1944, and, based on this fact, it is probable, though unconfirmed, that it was included in the 1945 exhibition and available for sale at the price of $250.
1. Julien Levy Gallery, New York, Arshile Gorky, March 6–31, 1945.
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