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Archaic Figure (Goddess from the Great Beyond)

Louise Nevelson

Artwork Details

Archaic Figure (Goddess from the Great Beyond)
1953-1955
Louise Nevelson
etching on beige wove paper
15 3/4 in. x 11 1/2 in. ( 40 cm x 29.2 cm )
Museum purchase made possible by a gift from Helmut Stern
1996/2.11

Description

Subject Matter:

Archaic Figure, also titled Goddess from the Great Beyond, depicts a woman with wide, narrow eyes and a long face. This print is from 1952 which was two years after Louise Nevelson took a trip to Central America. It was there that she became interested in the spiritual world and the forms and symbols of Mayan culture. This imagery influenced much of her ensuing work so it is possible that this Goddess was also inspired by her journey. 

This print is visually similar to three other Louise Nevelson prints in UMMA's collection, all with the same title.

Physical Description:

A print of an abstracted woman. The woman has a long inverted triangle shape for her face and large elliptical eyes. She has a round bust, thin waist, and wide hips. Her arms are folded behind her back but appear to be very long. Various portions of the body are shaded.
 

Usage Rights:

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