Bates Museum of Art Collection - [Figure Study for On the Beach]

[Figure Study for On the Beach]

1940
Marsden Hartley, American, (Lewiston, ME, January 4, 1877 - September 2, 1943, Ellsworth, ME)

Object Type	Marsden Hartley Memorial Collection
Dimensions	4 1/2 x 7 in. (11.43 x 17.78 cm)
Medium	Graphite on white paper
Credit Line	Bates College Museum of Art, Marsden Hartley Memorial Collection, Gift of Norma Berger, 1955.1.58
Accession Number	1955.1.58

Notes

This couple evolved into the central figural motif in Hartley's painting, On the Beach. In comparison to some of the Old Orchard drawings rendered with broken, schematic contour lines, this male and female figure are more anatomically developed, with details like spikey hair, deep-set eyes, chest hair, more fully articulated knee joints, and a modicum of shading to suggest volume. But again, what strikes us is the sensual pose, with its suggestion of intimacy. Interestingly, the final painting embraces the schematic and relies on exaggeration: the man in the duo becomes a giant, disproportionate to his girlfriend; his muscularity remains but contrariwise he and the girl resemble flattened cutouts and pattern takes over, such as the diamond shape formed between the arch of the girl's back and his bent knee. The transformation from the pencil study to finished oil, between observation and concept reveals much about Hartley's creative process.

Keywords Click a term to view the records with the same keyword

This object has the following keywords:

Drawing, Figurative, Figure, Hartley, Local, Maine, Marsden, Marsden Hartley, Marsden Hartley Memorial Collection, Paper, People, Sexuality, Works on paper

Additional Images Click an image to view a larger version

Exhibition List

This object was included in the following exhibitions:

Marsden Hartley: The Late Figure Works , 5/1/1990 - 6/1/1990

Portfolio List Click a portfolio name to view all the objects in that portfolio

This object is a member of the following portfolios:

Hartley Artworks

Hartley Entire Collection

Permanent Link: /objects-1/info/160

Your current search criteria is: Keyword is "DO" and [Objects]Artist is "Marsden Hartley" and [Objects]Century is ".

Go to Top

Object Results

by Country

[Figure Study for On the Beach]