Artwork
Against Green
Against Green is an ink print by Arthur Bowen Davies. It dates from 1918 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Arthur B.
About this work
Overview
This print belongs to a series of experimental works from the late 1910s, when Davies was deeply engaged with innovative printmaking methods.
Arthur B. Davies produced *Against Green* in 1918 as a color softground etching with aquatint on blue laid paper. This print belongs to a series of experimental works from the late 1910s, when Davies was deeply engaged with innovative printmaking methods. The blue paper grounds the composition in a quiet, cool tone, contrasting subtly with the muted hues of the figures. Unlike his earlier paintings, this piece emphasizes tactile surface variation and layered ink application.
Subject & Meaning
Three nude women are arranged in a quiet, interwoven group: one bends forward with hands on the thighs of a seated companion, while a third rests her head on the first’s back. The composition suggests intimacy without narrative, focusing on physical connection rather than storytelling. The absence of context or symbolism invites contemplation of the human form in repose, aligning with Davies’ interest in emotional resonance over explicit meaning.
Technique & Style
Davies employed softground etching to capture the soft contours of skin and fabric, while aquatint provided subtle tonal gradations. The blue paper serves as a unifying underlayer, allowing the pale greens and ochres to emerge delicately. Lines are fluid and restrained, avoiding sharp definition; texture is suggested through layered ink rather than detailed rendering. The technique prioritizes atmosphere over precision, enhancing the work’s meditative quality.
History & Provenance
Created during Davies’ tenure as a leading figure in American modernism, *Against Green* reflects his shift toward intimate, non-narrative subjects in the final years of his career. It was made after his influential role in organizing the 1913 Armory Show, when his focus turned increasingly to printmaking as a personal, experimental medium. The work remained in private collections until entering institutional holdings in the mid-20th century.
Context
In the late 1910s, American artists like Davies explored printmaking not as reproduction but as original expression, influenced by European modernists and Japanese woodcuts. While many contemporaries pursued abstraction or social commentary, Davies turned inward, using the quietude of etching to explore the human figure in tranquil, non-dramatic settings. This work aligns with broader trends in American tonalism and Symbolist-inspired figuration.
Legacy
Though less widely known than his paintings, *Against Green* exemplifies Davies’ contribution to the elevation of printmaking as a serious artistic medium in early 20th-century America. Its restrained palette and intimate subject matter influenced later generations of printmakers seeking emotional depth through subtle technique. The work remains a quiet testament to his commitment to personal expression over public spectacle.
Artist & collection
Artist
Arthur Bowen Davies (September 26, 1862 – October 24, 1928) was an avant-garde American artist and influential advocate of modern art in the United States c. 1910–1928.
