The Great Mother
circa 1913 National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.
About this artwork
This oil on canvas painting depicts a central, monumental female figure surrounded by a multitude of smaller, ethereal nude figures. The composition emphasizes rhythmic movement and an idealized, dreamlike atmosphere characteristic of Davies' later work.
Did you know?
Arthur Bowen Davies was a central figure in American Modernism, most notably serving as the primary organizer of the 1913 Armory Show, which introduced avant-garde European art to the American public. His own work, such as 'The Great Mother', often focused on idyllic, dreamlike scenes that stood in stark contrast to the gritty urban realism pursued by his peers in 'The Eight'.
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The Great Mother
Arthur Davies, circa 1913
