Bizarre

1928

Allen Tucker

Painter, American, 1866 - 1939

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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

  • Medium

    oil on canvas

  • Credit Line

    Gift of the Allen Tucker Memorial

  • 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


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