Bizarre
1928
Painter, American, 1866 - 1939

Bizarre is part of a series of images of glamorous, stylishly dressed women inspired by artist Allen Tucker’s encounter with the paintings of Vincent van Gogh at the Armory Show—the influential exhibition of European and American modern art held in New York in 1913. The model sits sideways on a chair, rests her hands on its backrest, and turns her head to look directly at the viewer. The title of the painting alludes to the sitter’s unconventional pose, intense gaze, and boldly patterned blouse. The flat forms, dark contours, emphasis on decorative surface pattern, heavy impasto, and bold color recall the portraits that Van Gogh painted in Arles and Saint-Rémy in 1888 and 1889. The unusual composition is a leading example of Tucker’s postimpressionist portraits, which update Van Gogh’s style for the roaring twenties in America.
Artwork overview
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Medium
oil on canvas
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Credit Line
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Dimensions
overall: 77 x 64.1 cm (30 5/16 x 25 1/4 in.)
framed: 76.8 x 64.1 cm (30 1/4 x 25 1/4 in.) -
Accession
1971.13.1
More About this Artwork
Artwork history & notes
Provenance
The artist [1866-1939]; by inheritance to his wife, Mrs. Allen Tucker [1870-1971, née Eufrasia Aguilar Leland Wesson], New York; The Allen Tucker Memorial, New York;[1] gift 1971 to NGA.
[1] The Allen Tucker Memorial was established in 1944 by the artist's widow; it was transferred in 1980 to the Art Students League.
Associated Names
Exhibition History
1965
The Twenties Revisited, Gallery of Modern Art, New York, 1965, unnumbered catalogue.
1966
Allen Tucker 1866-1939: Centennial Exhibition, The Milch Galleries, New York, 1966, no. 14.
1992
Extended loan for use by John C. Kornblum, U.S. Representative to the Conference and Security Commission of Europe, Vienna, Austria, 1992-1994.
1994
Extended loan for use by Samuel Brown, U.S. Representative to the Conference and Security Commission of Europe, Vienna, Austria, 1994-1998.
2005
Extended loan for use by Secretary Margaret Spellings, U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C., 2005-2008.
Bibliography
1932
Watson, Forbes. Allen Tucker. New York, 1932: 32-33, repro.
1980
American Paintings: An Illustrated Catalogue. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1980: 251, repro.
1992
American Paintings: An Illustrated Catalogue. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1992: 370, repro.
Inscriptions
lower left: Allen Tucker
Wikidata ID
Q20192712