Object Details
- Artist
- Elaine de Kooning, 12 Mar 1918 - 1 Feb 1989
- Sitter
- Merce Cunningham, 16 Apr 1919 - 26 Jul 2009
- Exhibition Label
- Born Centralia, Washington
- Describing the art form as “that single fleeting movement when you feel alive,” choreographer Merce Cunningham revolutionized dance. Over seven decades, he challenged choreographic conventions by embracing everyday movement, welcoming chance, and experimenting with technology. A protégé of Martha Graham, Cunningham first performed with her company from 1939 to 1945, but by 1953 he decided to form his own group.
- Cunningham’s interdisciplinary collaborations across the artistic spectrum, notably those he forged with his life partner, the composer John Cage, had a profound reach beyond the world of modern dance. He treated music, fashion, film, and visual art as “partners sharing in what I think of as series of adventures.” While teaching at Black Mountain College in 1948, he met Elaine de Kooning, whose portrait of Cunningham captures his lithe body in a dark silhouette surrounded by thin washes of color. Although the dancer stands still, the artist’s vigorous brushstrokes convey movement.
- Nacido en Centralia, Washington
- El coreógrafo Merce Cunningham revolucionó el arte la danza, el cual describió como “ese momento único y efímero en que te sientes vivo”. Durante siete décadas desafió las convenciones coreográficas, incorporando en sus obras movimientos cotidianos, el azar y la tecnología. Fue protegido de Martha Graham y actuó con la compañía de esta desde 1939 hasta 1945, pero hacia 1953 decidió formar su propio grupo.
- Las colaboraciones interdisciplinarias de Cunningham a lo ancho de la gama artística, sobre todo con su pareja, el compositor John Cage, tuvieron grandes influencias más allá del mundo de la danza moderna. Cunningham veía la música, la moda, el cine y las artes visuales como “camaradas que comparten lo que considero una serie de aventuras”. En 1948, cuando enseñaba en el Black Mountain College, conoció a Elaine de Kooning, quien captó su agilidad en una silueta oscura rodeada de finas aguadas de color. Aunque el bailarín está inmóvil, las vigorosas pinceladas de la artista comunican movimiento.
- Provenance
- The artist; gift to sitter; gift 1963 to Foundation for Contemporary Performance Arts, Inc., New York; gift 1996 to NPG
- Joan T. Washburn to Carolyn Carr, Curator NPG March 8, 1995: “Elaine de Kooning painted Merce Cunningham in 1962 and gave him this portrait….Merce donated his portrait to the Foundation several years ago to be sold for its benefit.”
- Credit Line
- National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of the Foundation for Contemporary Performing Arts, Inc.
- 1962
- Object number
- NPG.96.127
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Copyright
- © Elaine de Kooning Trust
- Type
- Painting
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Dimensions
- Stretcher: 243.8 x 122.2 x 5.1cm (96 x 48 1/8 x 2")
- Frame: 246.4 x 124.8 x 5.1cm (97 x 49 1/8 x 2")
- Place
- United States\New York\Kings\New York
- See more items in
- National Portrait Gallery Collection
- Exhibition
- 20th Century Americans: 1960-2000
- On View
- NPG, South Gallery 342
- National Portrait Gallery
- Topic
- Merce Cunningham: Male
- Merce Cunningham: Arts and Culture\Performing Arts\Dance\Dancer
- Merce Cunningham: Arts and Culture\Performing Arts\Dance\Choreographer
- Merce Cunningham: Arts and Culture\Performing Arts\Dance\Dancer\Modern dancer
- Merce Cunningham: Visual arts awards
- Portrait
- Record ID
- npg_NPG.96.127
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm498b4daef-01aa-43bb-83a7-960a9a8c2377
