Artwork
Dark Camel
Dark Camel is a drawing by Larry Rivers. It dates from 1962 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Dark Camel is a 1962 drawing by Larry Rivers, created with pencil and oil on paper. It depicts a camel in profile, set against a sparse background.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing reimagines the design of a Camel cigarette packet, with lettering along the top, left, and bottom edges. The camel's form is rendered in loose, expressive strokes, with an emphasis on capturing its essence rather than creating a realistic representation.
Technique & Style
The camel's fur is drawn in quick, dark strokes, while the ground is depicted in a light orange-brown color. The artist's use of loose, sketchy lines gives the drawing a spontaneous, doodle-like quality.
Context
The work is characteristic of Rivers' style, which often incorporated elements of popular culture and challenged traditional representations.
Artist & collection
Artist
Larry Rivers (born Yitzroch Loiza Grossberg; August 17, 1923 – August 14, 2002) was an American painter, musician, filmmaker, and occasional actor.
