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Class Work in the Art Students' League Etching Class

Class Work in the Art Students
Usage Conditions Apply
Artist
Marion D. Freeman, 1891 - 1953
Sitter
John French Sloan, 2 Aug 1871 - 8 Sep 1951
Robert Henri, 25 Jun 1865 - 12 Jul 1929
Wanda Hazel Gag, 1893 - 1946
Marion D. Freeman, 1891 - 1953
Date
c. 1917-23
Type
Print
Medium
Etching on paper
Dimensions
Image: 20.1 x 25.1cm (7 15/16 x 9 7/8")
Sheet: 23.2 x 29.3cm (9 1/8 x 11 9/16")
Topic
Art implements
Architecture\Window
Interior\Studio\Art
Self-portrait
Art implements\Printing press
John French Sloan: Male
John French Sloan: Visual Arts\Artist\Painter
John French Sloan: Visual Arts\Artist\Illustrator
John French Sloan: Visual Arts\Art instructor
Wanda Hazel Gag: Visual Arts\Artist
Wanda Hazel Gag: Female
Wanda Hazel Gag: Literature\Writer
Marion D. Freeman: Female
Marion D. Freeman: Visual Arts\Artist\Printmaker
Marion D. Freeman: Visual Arts\Artist\Printmaker\Etcher
Marion D. Freeman: Visual Arts\Artist\Painter
Robert Henri: Male
Robert Henri: Literature\Writer
Robert Henri: Visual Arts\Artist\Painter
Robert Henri: Visual Arts\Art instructor
Portrait
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Object number
NPG.81.79
Exhibition Label
This scene of diligent art-making depicts the etching class at the Art Students’ League. According to the handwritten inscription, it was drawn, etched, and printed in that class by Marion D. Freeman. The Art Students’ League was the only art school in New York City to offer formal etching instruction, and it became an incubator for innovative printmaking. Women—marginalized at other art schools—came into their own as printmakers at the League. Freeman and caricaturist Peggy Bacon (1895-1987) were among those who depicted contemporary subjects in a lively, simplified style that tended toward satire. Individuality and experimentation were encouraged by their dynamic teacher, Robert Henri (1865–1929), who appears here, cranking the wheel of the printing press, and by Henri’s close collaborator, John Sloan (1871–1951), shown sketching on a pad opposite Freeman and her colleague Wanda Gag (1893-1946).
Esta escena de laboriosos artistas en acción repre senta una clase de grabado en la Liga de Estudiantes de Arte. Según la inscripción a mano, la imagen fue dibujada, grabada e impresa en dicha clase por Marion D. Freeman. La Liga era la única escuela de arte de la ciudad de Nueva York que ofrecía instruc ción formal en grabado al aguafuerte y se convirtió en incubadora de innovaciones en el arte gráfico. Marginadas en otras escuelas, las mujeres brillaron como grabadoras en la Liga. Entre otros artistas, Freeman y la caricaturista Peggy Bacon (1895–1987) plasmaban temas contemporáneos en un estilo liviano y simplificado que tendía a la sátira. Su dinámico maestro Robert Henri (1865-1929), a quien vemos manejando la rueda de la imprenta, y el colaborador de éste, John Sloan (1871–1951), que aparece dibujando en un cuaderno sentado frente a Freeman y su colega Wanda Gag (1893–1946), fomentaban la individua lidad y la experimentación.
Data Source
National Portrait Gallery
Location
Currently not on view