Object Details
Artist
Elie Nadelman, born Warsaw, Poland 1882-died New York City 1946
Gallery Label
American popular culture transformed the classical sculpting style that Nadelman brought from Europe. The artist reveled in vaudeville and the circus and fell in love with the simple shapes and sly humor of American folk art, which he smoothly integrated into his carvings. This work was likely inspired by a photograph of the vaudeville star Eva Tanguay demonstrating a high, split kick from her routine. It is as elegantly carved as an archaic figure of a temple dancer but still conveys the impudent energy of the can-can.Exhibition Label, Smithsonian American Art Museum, 2006
Credit Line
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Partial and promised gift of Linda Lichtenberg Kaplan
Date
ca. 1918-1919
Object number
1999.102
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Type
Sculpture
Medium
painted cherry wood and gesso
Dimensions
28 1/4 x 14 1/2 x 5 1/8 in. (71.8 x 36.8 x 13 cm)
See more items in
Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection
Department
Painting and Sculpture
Data Source
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Topic
Figure female\full length
Performing arts\dance
Link to Original Record
Record ID
saam_1999.102