Fairfield Porter
Fairfield Porter
Artist
Elaine de Kooning
(1918 - 1989)
Depicted
Fairfield Porter
(1907 - 1975)
Dateca. 1956
MediumInk and casein on paper
Dimensions13 3/4 × 11 in. (34.9 × 27.9 cm)
Framed: 23 7/8 × 19 3/8 × 7/8 in.
Framed: 23 7/8 × 19 3/8 × 7/8 in.
ClassificationsDrawing
Credit LineCrystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas, Gift of Helen Porter and Jim Dyke, 2017.50
Signedl.l.: E de K
Accession number
2017.50
On View
Not on viewLabel TextHow is it that a male figure emerges from this scene? What visual effects help us see a seated man amongst a whirlwind of ink dots, lines, and scribbles? Elaine de Kooning builds space and volume within the composition, varying her use of ink to provide short-cut details to help the viewer fill in the blanks. Visible throughout is the hand of the artist at work – the left pant leg, the front of the shirt – illuminating the build-up and release of ink throughout the composition.
