Nighttime, Enigma, and Nostalgia

1932

Arshile Gorky

Associated Names
Arshile Gorky

Artist, American, born Van Province, Ottoman Empire (now Turkey), c. 1904 - 1948

The image shows a series of interconnected shapes and lines forming an abstract composition. The drawing includes curved and smooth lines alongside jagged forms. In the center, some shapes resemble overlapping waves or possible fins of fish, while others might be interpreted as distorted animal faces with circular eyes and elongated snouts. The interplay of black and white spaces, along with dense cross-hatching and stippling, enhances the abstract quality, encouraging viewers to find connections to familiar objects such as sea creatures or shadows.
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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    pen and brush and black ink over graphite

  • Credit Line

    Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert A. Goldstone

  • Dimensions

    overall: 47.9 x 62.9 cm (18 7/8 x 24 3/4 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1992.110.1

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    No.D0170

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Margit Chanin, New York; Mr. and Mrs. Herbert A. Goldstone, New York; gift 1992 to NGA.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1995

  • Recent Acquisitions of Works of Art on Paper, National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1995.

Inscriptions

upper right in ink: Gorky

Watermarks

Ingres; L'Ecolier / C & F

Wikidata ID

Q64536491

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