Artwork
Bird Men
Bird Men is an ink print by Arthur Bowen Davies. It dates from 1920 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Bird Men is a 1920 lithograph with lithotint in black on wove paper, created by Arthur B. Davies, a pivotal figure in the promotion of modern art in the United States during the early 20th century.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a group of figures combining human bodies with bird-like attributes (heads and wings), captured in various dynamic poses, suggesting flight or suspension. This blend of human and avian elements imparts an ethereal, dreamlike quality to the scene.
Technique & Style
Executed in lithography with lithotint, the work features delicate, high-contrast imagery set against a light background, which accentuates the dark, elongated forms of the bird-men. The lithographic process involved drawing with a grease-based substance on stone, etching with acid, and then inking the stone for paper printing.
History & Provenance
Created in 1920, during Davies' active period as a modern art advocate (c. 1910-1928), the piece reflects his engagement with avant-garde themes. Specific provenance details are not provided.
Context
Bird Men situates itself within early 20th-century American modernism, a movement Davies significantly influenced through his artwork and promotional efforts.
Legacy
As part of Davies' oeuvre, Bird Men contributes to the broader legacy of American modernist printmaking, though its individual impact within this canon is not specified.
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.
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