Desolation

c. 1935-1943

Bernard Joseph Steffen

Associated Names
Bernard Joseph Steffen

Artist, American, 1907 - 1980

Federal Art Project (New York City)

Publisher

The image shows a scene with a small, weathered building and a tall, skeletal structure, against a dark sky. The horizon is low, with distant shapes merging into the sky. The brushstrokes are fine and meticulous, creating a ghostly atmosphere. The color palette consists of shadowy tones, with charcoal grays and muted earth tones dominating. Sand, sparse vegetation, and rundown structures convey a sense of emptiness and barren stillness.
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Artwork overview

Artwork history & notes

Inscriptions

Inscribed: In pencil: lower center, Desolation; lower right, Bernard Steffen (in script); Stamped in ink: lower left, NEW YORK CITY WPA ART PROJECT (in caps)

Wikidata ID

Q76552004

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