Artwork
By the Caliban
By the Caliban 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
By the Caliban, a 1920 print by Arthur B. Davies, is a softground etching with aquatint in black on laid paper. Created during Davies' pivotal role in promoting modern art in the US, the work embodies his alignment with contemporary avant-garde practices.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a densely packed, chaotic crowd with indistinct faces and intertwined bodies, set against a dark, amorphous background. This composition may reflect themes of anonymity, congestion, or the overwhelming nature of modern life.
Technique & Style
Davies employed a contrast of scratchy lines and smooth aquatint tones to achieve textured depth. The softground etching technique, combined with the rough, aged appearance of the laid paper, adds to the work's tactile and visual complexity.
History & Provenance
Created in 1920, *By the Caliban* falls within Davies' late period as a leading figure in American modern art, a position he held from circa 1910 until his death in 1928. Specific provenance details are not provided.
Context
This work is situated within the early 20th-century American avant-garde movement, which Davies significantly influenced. The piece's themes and techniques reflect the era's artistic experimentation and response to urbanization.
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.
