Peter Hurd

American, 1904 - 1984

Explore selected works

The image shows a head-and-shoulders portrait of an older woman with aged features. She is facing slightly to her right with a contemplative gaze. Her hair is covered by a headscarf, and she is wearing a dark shawl over a light-colored blouse. The background features a softly shaded landscape with rolling hills and a single tree in the distance.
Peter Hurd, Associated American Artists, Doña Nestorita, 1940, lithograph in black on wove paper, Gift of John Nichols Estabrook and Dorothy Coogan Estabrook, 1987.41.35

Doña Nestorita

Peter Hurd, Associated American Artists · 1940 · lithograph in black on wove paper ·  Accession ID  1987.41.35

This is a drawing of a nighttime gathering in a forest clearing. The scene depicts people seated and standing among trees, illuminated by a hanging lamp. In the center, an individual appears to be gesturing upward. The lighting creates contrasts, highlighting the central figure and casting shadows around the crowd and the forest. The atmosphere suggests an outdoor event or meeting, possibly with a spiritual or motivational element, inferred from the text at the bottom of the artwork. The artist's technique creates a dynamic composition capturing the energy and intensity of the scene.
Peter Hurd, Associated American Artists, Sermon from Revelations, 1937, lithograph in black on wove paper, Corcoran Collection (Bequest of Frank B. Bristow, 1968), 2015.19.1244

Sermon from Revelations

Peter Hurd, Associated American Artists · 1937 · lithograph in black on wove paper ·  Accession ID  2015.19.1244

The image shows a nighttime scene from an elevated angle, with a large dark structure in the center. The horizon is not clearly visible as darkness covers much of the scene. There are shadowy outlines of smaller buildings and structures near the central structure. A lamp emits a bright light, casting harsh glow on the ground and the distant building. The light creates stark contrast and dramatic shadows. The artwork uses dense, textural brushstrokes to convey depth and atmosphere with varying shades of dark and light. The color palette is monochromatic, featuring deep blacks, greys, and a soft glowing white from the lamp. In the bright light, there is a solitary figure, subtly introducing a human element into the architectural scene.
Peter Hurd, The Night Watchman, 1935, lithograph, Reba and Dave Williams Collection, Gift of Reba and Dave Williams, 2008.115.2624

The Night Watchman

Peter Hurd · 1935 · lithograph ·  Accession ID  2008.115.2624

Bibliography

1969

  • Meigs, John, ed. Peter Hurd, The Lithographs. second edition. Lubbock, Texas, 1969.