Object Details
Artist
Eugenie Gershoy, born Krivoi Rog, Russia 1901-died 1986
Luce Center Label
During the late 1930s, Eugenie Gershoy began working for the Works Progress Administration in New York. A friend of hers, the artist Max Spivak, was designing a series of murals for a children’s library in Astoria, Long Island. Gershoy decided to create colorful figurines to go along with Spivak’s paintings. These sculptures depicted circus characters posed in a variety of impossible feats, including the figures in Ill-Fated Toreador, who dangles precariously from a bull’s horn, and The Very Strong Man, who lifts an elephant above his head while balancing on one toe. The library was so pleased with the work of Gershoy and Spivak, they rebuilt the space into an oval to emphasize the circus setting.
Luce Object Quote
“I began to explore the use of color . . . to intensify gesture and expression, to accentuate movement, heighten dramatic effects, [and] enhance the imagery.” Artist’s statement
Credit Line
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Erwin P. Vollmer
Date
1936-1940
Object number
1985.6
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
Sculpture
Medium
polychromed dextrine
Dimensions
23 x 13 7/8 x 9 5/8 in. (58.4 x 35.2 x 24.5 cm.)
See more items in
Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection
Department
Painting and Sculpture
On View
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center, 4th Floor, 47B
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center, 4th Floor
Data Source
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Topic
Figure male
Fantasy
Animal\elephant
Performing arts\circus\strong man
Link to Original Record
Record ID
saam_1985.6