Light as Air

1989

Ron Padgett (author) and Alex Katz

Associated Names
Alex Katz

Artist, American, born 1927

Ron Padgett

Author, American, born 1942

Aldo Crommelynck

Printer, French, 1931 - 2008

Pace Editions

Publisher

The image displays a rectangular shape with a canvas-like texture and bold, black capital letters spelling the phrase "LIGHT AS AIR." The design is minimalistic and abstract. The background is in a muted, earthy tone reminiscent of natural linen materials.
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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    portfolio of twelve softground etchings with aquatint, including title page and colophon page

  • Credit Line

    Gift of the Artist

  • Dimensions

    overall: 47.31 × 40.01 × 3.81 cm (18 5/8 × 15 3/4 × 1 1/2 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1994.96.1-12

Associated Artworks

See all 12 artworks
The image shows a person in profile view, focusing on their head and upper body. The person is resting their chin on their hand, and their elbow may be on a surface. They have long, dark hair and facial features such as a prominent nose, closed lips, and a slight smile. The individual is wearing a patterned garment with a checkered design. There are no visible jewelry or objects, and the background is plain and evenly shaded.

Untitled

Alex Katz, Aldo Crommelynck, Pace Editions

1985

The image shows a cropped portion of a person's face and upper body. The person's head is in a three-quarter view, with the face slightly turned to the left. The depiction focuses on the lower half of the face, capturing full lips drawn in a distinctive, bold line and a subtle suggestion of a nose. The person has medium-length, dark, straight hair that frames the sides of their face. The clothing consists of a patterned garment, possibly a plaid shirt or blazer, with a visible collar and two buttons on the cuff. A hand is poised under the chin in a thoughtful gesture. The composition is executed in a monochromatic palette of pencil lines, and the style is sketch-like. The background of the image is plain, with no distinct features or objects.

Untitled

Alex Katz, Aldo Crommelynck, Pace Editions

1985

The image depicts the upper body of a person from the shoulders to just below the chin. The person is facing the front, with hands holding an open checkered coat on each side of the collar. They are wearing a high-neck white top under the coat. The facial features are minimally drawn, with emphasis on full lips and an outlined nose. The person has long, dark hair that falls over the shoulders. There is no visible jewelry or objects. The background is a gradient from light to dark. The image is centered on a white paper with a rough border at the bottom, and appears to be a drawing in a gray-scale medium.

Untitled

Alex Katz, Aldo Crommelynck, Pace Editions

1985

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

the artist; gift to the NGA, 1994

Associated Names

Bibliography

2011

  • Schröder, Klaus Albrecht, ed. Alex Katz, Prints: Catalogue Raisonné, 1947-2011. Ostfilden, Germany, 2011: pp. 172-173, no. 218-229.

Inscriptions

lower center in graphite on colophon page: Ron Padgett

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