Archives of American Art Blog

Art History 101

I learned about the history of art in a dark class room, straining to hear the professor’s voice over the hum of slide projectors. I’ll admit that given the circumstances, I occasionally nodded off. But I can’t complain, because the great thing about art is that it’s relatively easy on the eyes, especially during the holiday season. Art is a respite from the visual bombardment of your neighbor’s attempt to outdo Clark Griswold’s light display, the onslaught of wacky holiday sweaters in department stores, and even the sting of mace in your eyes from a less than festive shopper.

Strolling through a museum is always a welcome activity, but I find it even more exciting to stumble upon a handmade holiday card while conducting research at the Archives of American Art. Within hundreds of collections are imaginative holiday cards that express the artistic idioms of their creators. Many artists found inspiration from the history of art for their annual holiday cards. With these cards as my evidence, I present a history of art that you won’t find in stuffy classrooms: *

Early Christian

Don Baum Christmas card to Kathleen Blackshear, 19-- . Kathleen Blackshear and Ethel Spears papers, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

During the Romanesque and Byzantine periods, depictions of the Virgin and Child were hardly flattering. Don Baum, a key figure of the Chicago Imagist movement, was especially drawn to these inimitable Christian icons.  For his holiday collage to fellow Chicago artists, Kathleen Blackshear and Ethel Spears, he enlivened a clipping of the dour looking duo by sketching them in a cozy nest. At least Baum’s composition explains why the Baby Jesus appears to be hanging onto his mother for dear life.

Northern Renaissance

Heidi Everhart Christmas card to David Ireland, 1993 Dec. 9 . David Ireland papers, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

The Archangel Michael was the Leonardo DiCaprio of the Renaissance period because angels flocked to him. The only difference is that today’s angels are of the Victoria’s Secret variety. In a holiday card to installation artist David Ireland, Heidi Everhart digitally plucked angels from Renaissance paintings to create her own composition. At the center of the card is Jan van Eyck’s inimitable portrayal of the Archangel Michael in his magnum opus, The Ghent Altarpiece .

Italian Renaissance

Julia Thecla holiday card to Kathleen Blackshear and Ethel Spears, 19-- . Kathleen Blackshear and Ethel Spears papers, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

During the Renaissance period, cherub models unionized for better working conditions. As a result, painters like Raphael had to provide breaks for the winged models of his masterpiece, Sistine Madonna. While on break, the cherubs let loose by smoking cigarettes and drinking wine. Chicago artist Julia Thecla painted these off–duty cherubs on her holiday card to Kathleen Blackshear and Ethel Spears.

Impressionism

Ralph Fabri Christmas card with Santa Claus as “The Thinker”, 1939 . Dale Pontius papers relating to Ralph Fabri, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

During the Impressionist period, sculptor Auguste Rodin earned acclaim for his work, The Thinker. According to the history books, this work depicts a philosopher deep in thought. But as artist Ralph Fabri reveals in his holiday etching, Rodin really based his work on a ponderous Santa Claus.

Expressionism

Arturo Rodríguez to Helen L. Kohen, circa 1980-1999 . Helen L. Kohen papers, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Van Gogh’s vivid painting of his bedroom at Arles is one of the finest examples of Expressionism. Indeed, the room was so disconcerting to its contemporary audience that when Santa Claus entered in 1888 to deliver Van Gogh’s gift—a pair of ear muffs—he temporarily lost his balance and had to sit down. Cuban American painter Arturo Rodriguez portrayed this little told story on his holiday postcard to Miami journalist Helen Kohen.

Cubism

Louise Nevelson Christmas card to Elise Asher and Stanley Kunitz, 1960 Dec. 20 . Elise Asher papers, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Primarily known for his provocative Cubist paintings, Picasso also earned critical acclaim for his Blue and Rose Periods. Art historians have recently discovered paintings from Picasso’s less known Prude Period in which he censored many of his prior masterpieces. For the holidays of 1960, sculptor Louise Nevelson sent poets Elise Asher and Stanley Kunitz her own interpretation of Picasso’s Prude Period.

How might artists illustrate art of the twenty–first century? Time will tell. Let’s just hope Damien Hirst stays away from Rudolph. Happy holidays from the Archives of American Art!

* because most of it is untrue.

Explore more:

• Winter Wonderland: Holiday Cards from the Kathleen Blackshear and Ethel Spears papers
• Season’s Greetings from Werner Drewes

Mary Savig is an Archives Specialist in the curatorial department. Her book, Season’s Greetings: Handmade Holiday Cards by 20^th Century Artists will be published by Smithsonian Books in 2012.

I Found it in the Archives: Creepy finds

Blogs across the Smithsonian will give an inside look at the Institution’s archival collections and practices during a month long blogathon in celebration of October’s American Archives Month. See additional posts from our other participating blogs, as well as related events and resources, on the Smithsonian’s Archives Month website.

In episode 2 of “I Found it in the Archives,” Processing Archivist, Jayna Hanson, shares her creepiest finds from the William Seitz papers.

Jayna Hanson is a processing archivist at the Archives of American Art and an aspiring royal.

I Found it in the Archives: The sensibility of an artist, the 1956 Columbian

Blogs across the Smithsonian will give an inside look at the Institution’s archival collections and practices during a month long blogathon in celebration of October’s American Archives Month. See additional posts from our other participating blogs, as well as related events and resources, on the Smithsonian’s Archives Month website.

Curator of Manuscripts, Liza Kirwin continues her exploration of the relationship between artist William T. Wiley, and his high school art teacher James McGrath in this episode of “I Found it in the Archives.” In 1956 Wiley was editor of the Columbian, his high school yearbook, and McGrath served as faculty advisor. The Archives of American Art holds McGrath’s copy, which Wiley signed demonstrating his fondness for his early mentor.

Explore more:

• Oral history interview with William T. Wiley, 1997 Oct. 8-Nov. 20

Liza Kirwin, who is currently Acting Director, has served as an archives technician, a regional collector, and the curator of manuscripts at the Archives of American Art. She holds a Ph.D. in American Studies from the University of Maryland, College Park and manages the Archives’ exhibition, acquisition, and oral history programs. She is the author of numerous articles and books about the Archives’ holdings. Her most recent publication, Lists: To–dos, Illustrated Inventories, Collected Thoughts, and Other Artists’ Enumerations from the Smithsonian’s Archives of American Art (Princeton Architectural Press, 2010), is also a traveling exhibition, most recently at the Morgan Library and Museum in New York City.

I Found it in the Archives: An inventive kind of yearbook, the 1955 Columbian

Blogs across the Smithsonian will give an inside look at the Institution’s archival collections and practices during a month long blogathon in celebration of October’s American Archives Month. See additional posts from our other participating blogs, as well as related events and resources, on the Smithsonian’s Archives Month website.

In this episode of “I Found it in the Archives,” Curator of Manuscripts, Liza Kirwin explores the relationship between artist William T. Wiley and his high school art teacher, James McGrath, through the lens of this highly inventive yearbook. Wiley was on the yearbook staff, and McGrath was the faculty advisor for the 1955 Columbian, at Columbia High School in Richland, Washington.

Explore more:

• Oral history interview with William T. Wiley, 1997 Oct. 8-Nov. 20

Liza Kirwin, who is currently Acting Director, has served as an archives technician, a regional collector, and the curator of manuscripts at the Archives of American Art. She holds a Ph.D. in American Studies from the University of Maryland, College Park and manages the Archives’ exhibition, acquisition, and oral history programs. She is the author of numerous articles and books about the Archives’ holdings. Her most recent publication, Lists: To–dos, Illustrated Inventories, Collected Thoughts, and Other Artists’ Enumerations from the Smithsonian’s Archives of American Art (Princeton Architectural Press, 2010), is also a traveling exhibition, most recently at the Morgan Library and Museum in New York City.

I Found it in the Archives: The Emmet Family

Blogs across the Smithsonian will give an inside look at the Institution’s archival collections and practices during a month long blogathon in celebration of October’s American Archives Month. See additional posts from our other participating blogs, as well as related events and resources, on the Smithsonian’s Archives Month website.

In our first episode of “I Found it in the Archives,” Processing Archivist, Jean Fitzgerald takes us on the grand tour with the women of the Emmet family.

Processing Archivist Jean Fitzgerald recently retired from the Archives of American Art after more than 34 years of service at the Smithsonian Institution.