Anatomy of a horse, according to Ray Johnson.
Ray Johnson mail art to David Bourdon, not before 1962. David Bourdon papers, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Little nuggets of treasure from the art world's Fort Knox.
One of several beautiful studies of Native American artifacts by painter and illustrator Allen Tupper True. According to the note at the top of the page, this one depicts Crow war shields.
Sketches of Native American artifacts, 194-?. Allen Tupper True and True family papers, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
I guess if you are going to sit on top of the mural you are working on, it is best to take your shoes off.
Antonio Sotomayor at work on mural for Peruvian Pavilion, Treasure Island Exposition, 1938 / unidentified photographer. Antonio Sotomayor papers, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
"The subjects of his work are simple visual symbols: targets, numbers from 1 to 9, or letters from A to Z, the American flag…Johns restores to these mass-produced and much abused symbols their original impact."
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Press release by Leo Castelli for Jasper Johns’ first one-man show. It is Johns’ 83rd birthday today.
Press release for Jasper Johns — Paintings exhibit, 1958. Leo Castelli Gallery records, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
The mustaches of the Armory Show.
From top to bottom:
Walter Pach, circa 1910 / Pach Brothers, photographer. Walter Pach papers, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Portraits of Walt Kuhn, 1903 / unidentified photographer. Walt Kuhn, Kuhn family papers, and Armory Show records, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Arthur B. Davies, circa 1908 / Gertrude Käsebier, photographer. Macbeth Gallery records, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
For more on these three mustachio’d gents and the Armory Show in general, visit our dedicated site, armoryshow.si.edu.
How did the design for the Armory Show floorplan go from a traditional layout of rectangular rooms to the honeycomb format seen above? Leading Armory Show scholar Laurette E. McCarthy is on the case.
Blueprint of Armory Show floorplan, between 1912 and 1913. Walt Kuhn, Kuhn family papers, and Armory Show records, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
For more on the Armory Show, visit our dedicated site: armoryshow.si.edu
Happy Mother’s Day!
Jessie Olssen (Tanner) and Jesse Ossawa Tanner posing for Christ learning to read by Henry O. Tanner, ca. 1910 / unidentified photographer. Henry Ossawa Tanner papers, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
A simple but expressive portrait of Richard Diebenkorn by his friend and fellow Bay Area painter Elmer Bischoff.
Richard Diebenkorn, between 1956 and 1959. Elmer Bischoff papers, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
A dramatically lit portrait of William Wyman at the potter’s wheel.
William Wyman, circa 1950 / unidentified photographer. William Wyman papers, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Yum.
Joseph Lindon Smith letter to his parents, 1894 Sept. 8. Joseph Lindon Smith papers, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
