Work Record with Description [Figure 40]
Work Record |
|
Class [controlled] | paintings • American art |
*Work Type [link] | painting |
*Title |
The Figure 5 in Gold | Title Type: preferred Title: Five in Gold | Title Type: alternate |
*Creator display |
Charles Demuth (American, 1883-1935) *Role [link]: painter | [link]: Demuth, Charles |
*Creation Date | 1928 | [controlled]: Earliest: 1928; Latest: 1928 |
*Subjects [links to authorities] |
portrait • William Carlos Williams (American poet, 1883-1963) • Williams, William Carlos • "The Great Figure" (poem) • industry • fire • fire engine |
*Current Location [link] | Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York; New York, United States) | ID:49.59.1 |
*Measurements |
90.2 x 76.2 cm (35 1/2 x 30 inches) [controlled]: Value: 90.2; Unit: cm; Type: height | Value: 76.2; Unit: cm; Type: width |
*Materials and Techniques |
oil on cardboard Material [link]: oil paint • cardboard |
Style [link] : | Futurist • Cubist |
Description |
In the 1920s Demuth produced a series of poster-portraits honoring his contemporaries, inspired by Gertrude Stein's word-portraits. This painting pays homage to a poem by William Carlos Williams, "The Great Figure." This portrait consists not of a physical likeness of the poet, but of images associated with him, the poet's initials, and the names "Bill" and "Carlos." Williams' poem describes the experience of seeing a red fire engine with the number 5 painted on it racing through the city streets. |
Description Source [link] | Metropolitan Museum of Art online. http://www.metmuseum.org (accessed February 1, 2005). |
CREDIT: The Figure 5 in Gold, 1928;
Charles Demuth (American, 1883-1935);
Oil on cardboard; H. 35-1/2, W. 30 in.
(90.2 x 76.2 cm); The Metropolitan
Museum of Art, Alfred Stieglitz Collection,
1949 (49.59.1); Photograph © 1986 The
Metropolitan Museum of Art.