Artwork
Kingdom of the Sun
Kingdom of the Sun is an ink print by Arthur Bowen Davies. It dates from 1919 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1919, *Kingdom of the Sun* is a print by American artist Arthur B. Davies. Executed with soft‑ground etching, drypoint, and aquatint, the work exemplifies the experimental printmaking practices Davies pursued during the early twentieth century.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents a loosely arranged group of figures in a natural setting, many of them nude or clad in draped garments. Some figures stand, others sit or recline, suggesting a tranquil, perhaps mythic gathering within a landscape rendered in muted light and shadow.
Technique & Style
Davies combined soft‑ground etching for delicate line work on the bodies with the more vigorous, textured marks of drypoint and aquatint in the surrounding foliage. This juxtaposition of smooth, gentle contours against a rougher, expressive background creates a layered tonal range and a sense of depth.
History & Provenance
During the period from roughly 1910 to 1928, Davies was a prominent advocate for modern art in the United States, and *Kingdom of the Sun* reflects his engagement with contemporary print techniques. The print was produced as part of his broader output that helped introduce avant‑garde ideas to American audiences.
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.
