Note on the Drawings of David Smith in 1959 exhibition at Bennington College
Date
1959-03-26
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Abstract
"A Note on the Drawings of David Smith
Though David Smith is known primarily for his metal sculpture which has
earned him top place among the American sculptors of his generation, he began
his career in the Twenties as a student of painting. In fact, his sculpture
grew out of his experimental approach to painting when he found that he could
only satisfy his desire for form by building his pictures outward through the
use of actual objects fastened to and moulded upon the canvas. One of the
notable features of Smith's sculpture has been frequently referred to as his
"tracery", that is, the way he often constructs his pieces as if they were
drawings in space.
It is not surprising, then, to discover Smith's drawings to be those of
a master hand in this medium, executed with the same exuberant punch and toughness
which characterize his best sculpture. In these two dozen drawi..n gs (sometimes
virtually paintings) selected from the hundreds he has produced in the
recent decade, Smith proves himself a truly consummate artist and a rich personality
whose "oeuvre" will never be limited to a single means of expression.
Included in the exhibition are three vertical paintings created somewhat
in the manner of the photogram by masking areas of the canvas before the
paint is sprayed in various ways over the surface. This is the first time these
new paintings have been shown and they represent but a tiny portion of the many
more which Smith is now working on in his studio in Bolton Landing, New York."
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Keywords
Smith, David, 1906-1965, Sculpture, Modern -- 20th century., Smith, David, 1906-1965