Skeleton Marionette

c. 1936

George File

Associated Names
George File

Artist, American, c. 1885 - unknown

This is a painting of a skeleton marionette with strings extending above it. The skeletal figure is detailed in a muted gray palette, with each segment clearly articulated to suggest movement. The left side of the painting features a smaller diagram of a marionette control bar, with numbered strings that correspond to the numbers above the skeleton's strings, indicating which strings manipulate which body parts. The background is plain, off-white paper. The lower right corner contains the signature "George. J. File."

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    watercolor, graphite, pen and ink, and gouache on paperboard

  • Credit Line

    Index of American Design

  • Dimensions

    overall: 50 x 33.3 cm (19 11/16 x 13 1/8 in.)
    Original IAD Object: 20" high

  • Accession Number

    1943.8.15652

More About this Artwork

Video:  D.I.Y. Art: Skeleton Marionette Inspired by George File

Watch and learn how to make a marionette inspired by George File's 1936 watercolor Skeleton Marionette.

Artwork history & notes

Inscriptions

lower right in black ink: Grorge J. File

Wikidata ID

Q64571408

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