The Plow and the Song

1946

Arshile Gorky

Associated Names
Arshile Gorky

Artist, American, born Van Province, Ottoman Empire (now Turkey), c. 1904 - 1948

The image displays swirling lines and soft forms that interlace across the canvas. The composition suggests flowing ribbons, floating clouds, and plant-like shapes. The colors are muted and earthy, enhancing the enigmatic quality of the piece. The lines appear to dance and connect, resembling gentle curves and organic forms in nature.
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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    charcoal pencil, charcoal with erasing, pastel, graphite pencil, and spatters of oil paint on wove paper

  • Credit Line

    Gift of the Avalon Foundation

  • Dimensions

    overall: 122 x 150.3 cm (48 1/16 x 59 3/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1971.58.1

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Costello, No.D1059

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Estate of the artist; to Julien Levy Gallery, New York, 1947; to Julien Levy, Bridgewater Connecticut, 1949; to Estate of Arshile Gorky, by 1953; to Sidney Janis Gallery, New York, May 13, 1953; to Elvine "V.V." [Magruder] and Paul Scott Rankine, Washington, DC;by October 29, 1955; to Stephen Mazoh & Co., New York. after 1966; purchased 1971 by NGA with funds from the Avalon Foundation.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1978

  • American Art at Mid-Century: The Subjects of the Artist, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., June 1, 1978–January 14, 1979, as "The Plow and the Song".

1981

  • Contemporary American Prints and Drawings, National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, 1981, unnumbered brochure.

  • Arshile Gorky 1904–1948: A Retrospective, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, April 24–July 19, 1981, no. 202, ill. in b/w, p. 224, as "Study for The Plow and the Song".

1986

  • Graphics Survey Exhibition, National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., October 1986.

1995

  • Arshile Gorky: The Breakthrough Years, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.; Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo; Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, 1995-1996, no. 38, repro. (shown only in Washington and Ft. Worth).

2001

  • A Century of Drawing, National Gallery of Art, Washington, 2001-2002, no. 79.

2003

  • Arshile Gorky Drawings Retrospective, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; The Menil Collection, Houston, 2003-2004, no. 100.

2009

  • Arshile Gorky, A Retrospective, Philadelphia Museum of Art; Tate Modern, London; The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, 2009-2010, no. 146, repro. (shown only in Philadelphia).

Bibliography

1978

  • Carmean, E.A., Jr. and Eliza E. Rathbone. American Art at Mid-Century: The Subjects of the Artist. Exh. cat. National Gallery of Art, 1978: fig.13.

1981

  • Waldman, D., Arshile Gorky, 1904-1948 : a retrospective. New York, 1981: 202.

1984

  • Walker, John. National Gallery of Art, Washington. Rev. ed. New York, 1984: 686, no. 1109, color repro.

1995

  • Arshile Gorky: The Breakthrough Years. Exh. cat. National Gallery of Art, Washington; Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo; Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, 1995-1996: no. 38.

2001

  • A Century of Drawing. Exh. cat. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 2001-2002: no. 79.

2009

  • Taylor, Michael R. ed. Arshile Gorky: A Retrospective. Exh. cat., Philadelphia Museum of Art; Tate Modern, London, England; the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, 2009-2010, no. 49.

Inscriptions

lower right: A. Gorky

Markings

None.

Watermarks

None.

Wikidata ID

Q64536484

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