Painted Chest, Michoacan

1935/1942

Chester Faris

Associated Names
Chester Faris

Artist, American, 1912 - 1985

The image depicts a highly stylized and symmetrical composition with three distinct horizontal sections. The point of view is frontal and decorative, capturing a scene of cultural and architectural elements. The top section features a floral pattern with pink and red flowers and green foliage framing the image. The middle section contains an eagle clutching a flag with green, white, and red stripes, flanked by equestrian figures and an ornate garden setting. Below, a cityscape is depicted with buildings in shades of red, blue, yellow, and white, featuring domes and towers. The scene includes sailing ships on a blue waterway, birds, and animals on green lawns. The horizon is suggested by the tops of the buildings against a dark backdrop. The brushstrokes are precise and deliberate, creating a clean, illustrative look typical of traditional folk art. The color palette is vibrant with reds, greens, blues, and pinks, contrasted against deep black and white accents. The image is rich in detail yet maintains harmony through repeated motifs and a structured layout.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    opaque watercolor and graphite on Strathmore wove paper

  • Credit Line

    Index of American Design

  • Dimensions

    sheet: 54.8 × 72.1 cm (21 9/16 × 28 3/8 in.)
    Original IAD Object: none given

  • Accession Number

    1943.8.7516


Artwork history & notes

Exhibition History

2022

  • The Clamor of Ornament: Exchange, Power, and Joy from the Ffiteenth Century to the Present, The Drawing Center, New York, 2022, pl. 141, repro.

Bibliography

2022

  • Hoptman, Laura J. The Clamor of Ornament: Exchange, Power, and Joy from the Fifteenth Century to the Present. Exh. cat. The Drawing Center, New York, New York, 2022: 213, pl.141, color repro.

Markings

None.

Watermarks

"Strathmore" lower left margin.

Wikidata ID

Q64539815

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