Philadelphia Museum of Art
April 18 —September 3, 2018
American artists in the first half of the twentieth century created a bold new artistic language to capture the essence of modern life. This wide-ranging exhibition reframes examples of American Modernism in the collection, with an emphasis on painting and sculpture, along with select examples of prints, drawings, photographs, decorative arts, and costumes. It features works by internationally acclaimed artists from the circle of the photographer and gallerist Alfred Stieglitz, such as Georgia O’Keeffe, Marsden Hartley, and Arthur Dove, along with equally significant if lesser-known artists who contributed to the art of their day.
The exhibition also explores modernity from a less formal angle, focusing on work by artists who were drawn to depict modern amusements and moments of daily life, from burlesque performances and beach scenes by Reginald Marsh and George Bellows to vignettes of people quietly occupying public spaces by Ben Shahn and Jacob Lawrence. The newest acquisitions to be included are two paintings by Horace Pippin and the singular work, Road andTrees by Edward Hopper.
The Museum will publish a catalogue in conjunction with the exhibition, co-published by Yale University.
Spring Sale at Bendel's, 1921, by Florine Stettheimer, American, 1871 – 1944. Oil on canvas, 50 x 40 inches (127 x 101.6 cm). Philadelphia Museum of Art: Gift of Miss Ettie Stettheimer
Pertaining to Yachts and Yachting, 1922, by Charles Sheeler, American, 1883 – 1965. Oil on canvas, 20 x 24 1/16 inches (50.8 x 61.1 cm). Philadelphia Museum of Art: Bequest of Margaretta S. Hinchman, 1955-96-9.
Neighbors, 1951, by Charles Sheeler, American, 1883 – 1965. Oil on canvas, 18 x 15 inches (45.7 x 38.1 cm); Frame: 26 1/2 × 23 1/2 inches (67.3 × 59.7 cm). Philadelphia Museum of Art: Gift of C. K. Williams, II, 2015-8-2.
Portrait of James Baldwin, 1945, by Beauford Delaney, American (active Paris), 1901 – 1979. Oil on canvas, 22 x 18 inches (55.9 x 45.7 cm). Philadelphia Museum of Art: 125th Anniversary Acquisition. Purchased with funds contributed by The Daniel W. Dietrich Foundation in memory of Joseph C. Bailey and with a grant from The Judith Rothschild Foundation, 1998-3-1.
Something on the Eight Ball, 1953-1954, by Stuart Davis, American, 1892 - 1964. Oil on canvas, 56 × 45 inches (142.2 × 114.3 cm). Philadelphia Museum of Art: Purchased with the Adele Haas Turner and Beatrice Pastorius Turner Memorial Fund, 1954-30-1. © Estate of Stuart Davis / Licensed by VAGA, New York.
View from Ship, c. 1932, by Jan Matulka, American (born Czech Republic), 1890 - 1972. Oil on canvas, 36 x 30 inches (91.4 x 76.2 cm). Philadelphia Museum of Art: Gift of C. K. Williams, II, 2015-8-1. © The Estate of Jan Matulka.
Words and Music of Two Hemispheres Francis Criss, American (born England), 1901 - 1973 © Estate of Francis Criss