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Open 10:00–5:00

Visit
Open today 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Admission is always free

6th and Constitution Ave NW
Washington, DC 20565

Sculpture Garden Extended Hours

Open late until 8:00 p.m. on select nights
Through September 5
Exhibitions & Events
America’s 250th

Celebrating American art and artists
Art & Artists
Open Call

Artists Reimagining the Collection
Meet the 50 makers selected from more than 1,600 submissions

Tight Rope Walker

1932

Mabel Dwight

Associated Names

Mabel Dwight

Artist, American, 1875 - 1955

George C. Miller

Printer, American, 1894 - 1966

This is a drawing of a tightrope walker in a circus. The performer is balanced on a tightrope, dressed in a traditional costume with intricate designs. The attire includes a wide-brimmed hat. Two spotlights illuminate the performer, creating shadows. Below the tightrope, a person is seated and looking at the performer. In the background, there are blurry figures suggesting an audience. The drawing features rich tonal contrasts and fine linework, capturing the dynamic atmosphere of a circus performance.

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Artwork overview

Medium

lithograph in black
Credit Line

Reba and Dave Williams Collection, Gift of Reba and Dave Williams
Dimensions

image: 31.8 × 18.3 cm (12 1/2 × 7 3/16 in.)
sheet: 40.5 × 29.3 cm (15 15/16 × 11 9/16 in.)
Accession Number

2008.115.1558
Catalogue Raisonné

Robinson & Pirog 1997, no. 65

Artwork history & notes

Bibliography

1997

Robinson, Susan Barnes, and John Pirog. Mabel Dwight: A Catalogue Raisonné of the Lithographs. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1997, p. 106, no. 65.

Inscriptions

lower right in graphite: Mabel Dwight

Wikidata ID

Q76441411

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