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Open 10:00–5:00

National Gallery of Art

  • Visit

    • Plan Your Visit
    • Accessibility
    • Visiting with Kids
    • Food and Drink
    • Tours and Guides
    • Explore the Campus

    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

    • Exhibitions
    • Calendar
    • Kid-Friendly Events

    America’s 250th

    Celebrating American art and artists

  • Art & Artists

    • Artworks
    • Artists
    • Stories
    • Fun and Games
    • Educational Resources
    • Research

    Open Call

    Artists Reimagining the Collection

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

Utility

  • Support
  • Shop
  • Become a Member

  • Visit

    • Plan Your Visit
    • Accessibility
    • Visiting with Kids
    • Food and Drink
    • Tours and Guides
    • Explore the Campus

    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

    • Exhibitions
    • Calendar
    • Kid-Friendly Events

    America’s 250th

    Celebrating American art and artists

  • Art & Artists

    • Artworks
    • Artists
    • Stories
    • Fun and Games
    • Educational Resources
    • Research

    Open Call

    Artists Reimagining the Collection

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

Utility

  • Support
  • Shop
  • Become a Member

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  • Open 10:00–5:00
  • See extended hours

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    3. Ruth Thorne-Thomsen

    Ruth Thorne-Thomsen

    American, born 1943

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    Artwork

    The image features several palm trees and geometric structures resembling large, smooth walls. The horizon is not visible, but the vertical elements suggest a flat expanse beyond a balustrade. The style indicates sharp contrasts in black-and-white photography, with palm silhouettes against the wall-like structures and the sky. The scene is dominated by a monochrome palette with deep blacks to creamy whites, creating a high-contrast effect. The textures appear smooth without clear brushstrokes, emphasizing the stark, graphic quality.
    Ruth Thorne-Thomsen, Paper Palms, California, 1981, gelatin silver print, Corcoran Collection (Gift of Joshua P. Smith), 2015.19.4952

    Paper Palms, California

    Paper Palms, California

    Ruth Thorne-Thomsen · 1981 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2015.19.4952

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      4th St and Constitution Ave NW
      Washington, DC 20565

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      7th St and Constitution Ave NW
      Washington, DC 20565

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