Mr. and Mrs. America
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Object Details
- Artist
- Rex Clawson, born Dallas, TX 1933
- Luce Center Label
- Rex Clawson created Mr. and Mrs. America in 1969 to express his anger at the government and the military during the Vietnam War. The badges on the male figure show the branches of the military, while the images on the woman depict state emblems, symbolizing the government. He chose these details to stand for particular people or events associated with the war. For example, the flag of the Lone Star State may represent Lyndon B. Johnson, a Texas native who was president during the worst years of the war, while the warning sign over the woman’s body probably refers to the extensive use of dangerous chemicals such as napalm.
- Credit Line
- Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment
- 1969
- Object number
- 1997.124.11
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Type
- Painting
- Folk Art
- Medium
- enamel on wood
- Dimensions
- 20 x 23 7/8 in. (50.8 x 60.7 cm.)
- See more items in
- Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection
- Department
- Painting and Sculpture
- On View
- Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center, 3rd Floor, 23B
- Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center
- Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center, 3rd Floor
- Smithsonian American Art Museum
- Topic
- Figure female\full length
- Figure male\full length
- Allegory\place\America
- Emblem\seal
- Record ID
- saam_1997.124.11
- Metadata Usage (text)
- Not determined
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/vk7bfbe409e-9282-4a92-8387-a1854bd06645
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