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Arshile Gorky Catalogue Raisonné

Catalogue Entry

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Photo: Jerry L. Thompson
D1008
(Carnival)
1943
Crayon and graphite pencil on paper
20 x 27 in. (50.8 x 68.6 cm)
Recto, in pencil, lower right: A. Gorky / 43
Verso not seen
Jack and Frances Levy, New York
Provenance
The artist
Julien Levy Gallery, New York (December 21, 1944)
Julien Levy, Bridgewater, Connecticut (1949)
[D'Arcy Galleries, New York (November 12, 1960)]
Julien Levy, Bridgewater, Connecticut (1961)
[Richard Feigen Gallery, Chicago (by March 1969)]
[J. L. Hudson Gallery, Detroit (by January 1970)]
Private collection, Detroit
William Beadleston Inc., New York (after February 1972)
Private collection (1972)
[Simon C. Dickinson Ltd., London (2009)]
Jennifer Vorbach LLC, New York (2009)
Jack and Frances Levy, New York (2009)
Exhibitions
1945a New York possibly
Julien Levy Gallery, New York, Arshile Gorky, March 6–31, 1945. (Exhibition brochure: Breton 1945b).
1951a New York possibly
Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, Arshile Gorky Memorial Exhibition, January 5–February 18, 1951, no. 80, p. 48. Traveled to: Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, March 4–April 22, 1951; San Francisco Museum of Art, California, May 9–July 9, 1951.
1960–61 New York
D'Arcy Galleries, New York, International Surrealist Exhibition, November 28, 1960–January 14, 1961, no. 65, as "Carnival".
1969 Chicago possibly
Richard Feigen Gallery, Chicago, Arshile Gorky: Drawings from the Julien Levy Collection, March 18–April 26, 1969, no. 9, as "Untitled".
1969e New York
M. Knoedler & Co. Inc, New York, Gorky: Drawings, November 25–December 27, 1969. (Exhibition catalogue: Jordan 1969), no. 61, ill. in b/w, p. 34; p. 58, as "Carnival," dated 1944.
1970 Detroit
J.L. Hudson Company Gallery, Detroit, Arshile Gorky Drawings, January 7–February 7, 1970, as "Carnival".
1989–90 Madrid
Sala de Exposiciones de la Fundación Caja de Pensiones, Madrid, Arshile Gorky, 1904–1948, October 17–December 23, 1989, [exhibited in London only; not in catalogue]. Traveled to: Whitechapel Art Gallery, London, January 19–March 25, 1990.
2003–04b New York
Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, Arshile Gorky: A Retrospective of Drawings, November 20, 2003–February 15, 2004, no. 79, ill. in color, p. 149; p. 244, as "Carnival". Traveled to: Menil Collection, Houston, March 5–May 9, 2004.
Literature
Levy 1966
Levy, Julien. Arshile Gorky. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1966. Monograph, no. 123, ill. in color, p. 147, as "Carnival," dated 1944.
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

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, and, based on this fact, it is probable, though unconfirmed, that it was included in the 1945 exhibition. 

1. Julien Levy Gallery, New York, Arshile Gorky, March 6–31, 1945.

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