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Gene Davis (i)

Smithsonian American Art Museum (United States) (i)

Year : 1968
Media : Acrylic On Canvas (i)
Size : 260 x 41 cm

This image represents a two-dimensional work of art, such as a drawing, painting, print, or similar creation. The copyright for this image is likely owned by either the artist who created it, the individual who commissioned the work, or their legal heirs. It is believed that the use of low-resolution images of artworks: for purposes of critical commentary on:

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Gene Davis was a prominent figure in the Washington Color School, a movement that emphasized the primacy of color in abstract painting. His work, including the iconic piece Long John, continues to fascinate art enthusiasts and scholars alike. Created in 1968, Long John is a seminal work that showcases Davis's unique approach to color and composition.

The Artist's Vision

Davis's artistic philosophy was centered around the idea of "playing by eye," allowing his intuition to guide his creative process. This approach resulted in works like Long John, which features a vibrant color scheme and horizontal stripes that create an eye-catching pattern. The painting is characterized by its use of acrylic on canvas, a medium that Davis often employed to achieve bold, vivid colors.

Artistic Influences and Style

Davis's work was influenced by various artists, including Paul Klee and Arshile Gorky. However, his unique style and approach set him apart from his contemporaries. The Washington Color School, which included artists like Morris Louis and Kenneth Noland, was marked by its emphasis on color and abstraction. Davis's contribution to this movement was significant, and his work continues to be celebrated for its innovative use of color and composition.

Long John is part of the permanent collection at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, a testament to its importance in the world of modern art.
Davis's work can be found on ArtsDot.com, where art enthusiasts can discover and purchase handmade oil painting reproductions of his iconic pieces.
For more information on Gene Davis and his artistic style, visit ArtsDot.com's page on Gene Davis.

Gene Davis's legacy continues to inspire artists and art lovers alike. His innovative approach to color and composition has left an indelible mark on the world of modern art. As we continue to explore and appreciate his work, including Long John, we are reminded of the power of art to transform and uplift us.
The Smithsonian American Art Museum is a premier institution for American art, and its collection includes many notable works by Gene Davis. By visiting ArtsDot.com, art enthusiasts can learn more about Davis's life and work, as well as discover other artists and styles that have shaped the world of modern art.

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Gene Davis

Art by color

Gene Davis was an American Color Field painter known for his striking paintings of vertical stripes of color. Born in Washington D.C. in 1920, Davis spent most of his life there, working as a sportswriter before turning to painting in 1949.

Early Life and Career

Before becoming an artist, Davis worked as a journalist, covering the Roosevelt and Truman presidential administrations. He was often President Truman's partner for poker games. His first art studio was in his apartment on Scott Circle; later he worked out of a studio on Pennsylvania Avenue. Davis's first solo exhibition of drawings was at the Dupont Theater Gallery in 1952, and his first exhibition of paintings was at Catholic University in 1953. A decade later he participated in the "Washington Color Painters" exhibit at the Washington Gallery of Modern Art in Washington, D.C., which traveled to other venues around the US, and launched the recognition of the Washington Color School as a regional movement in which Davis was a central figure.

Artistic Style

Davis is best known for his acrylic paintings of colorful vertical stripes, which he began to paint in 1958. The paintings typically repeat particular colors to create a sense of rhythm and repetition with variations. One of the best-known of his paintings, "Black Grey Beat" (1964), owned by the Smithsonian American Art Museum, reinforces these musical comparisons in its title. Davis's artistic style is characterized by large fields of flat, solid color spread across or stained into the canvas creating areas of unbroken surface and a flat picture plane. The movement places less emphasis on gesture, brushstrokes and action in favor of an overall consistency of form and process. In color field painting, "color is freed from objective context and becomes the subject in itself."

Color Field painting is a style of abstract painting that emerged in New York City during the 1940s and 1950s.
It was inspired by European modernism and closely related to abstract expressionism, while many of its notable early proponents were among the pioneering abstract expressionists.
Mark Rothko, Clyfford Still, and Barnett Newman are some of the most famous Color Field painters.

Davis's work can be found in the collections of, among others, the Corcoran Gallery of Art, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, The Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C., and the Smithsonian American Art Museum. He died on April 6, 1985, in his hometown of Washington, D.C. https://WahooArt.com/@/Gene-Davis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Davis_(painter) https://WahooArt.com/Art.nsf/O/A@D3CP2P

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Purchase Oil Painting Replica Long John, 1968 by Gene Davis (Inspired By) (1920-1985, United States) | ArtsDot.com

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Gene Davis was a prominent figure in the Washington Color School, a movement that emphasized the [B]primacy of color[/B] in abstract painting. His work, including the iconic piece [A href='https://ArtsDot.com/ADC/Art.nsf/Art_EN?Open&Query=long+john,long,john&']Long John[/A], continues to fascinate art enthusiasts and scholars alike. Created in 1968, [A href='https://ArtsDot.com/ADC/Art.nsf/Art_EN?Open&Query=long+john,long,john&']Long John[/A] is a seminal work that showcases Davis's unique approach to color and composition. [H2]The Artist's Vision[/H2] Davis's artistic philosophy was centered around the idea of 'playing by eye,' allowing his intuition to guide his creative process. This approach resulted in works like [A href='https://ArtsDot.com/ADC/Art.nsf/Art_EN?Open&Query=long+john,long,john&']Long John[/A], which features a vibrant color scheme and horizontal stripes that create an eye-catching pattern. The painting is characterized by its use of [B]acrylic on canvas[/B], a medium that Davis often employed to achieve bold, vivid colors. [H2]Artistic Influences and Style[/H2] Davis's work was influenced by various artists, including [A href='https://ArtsDot.com/ADC/Art.nsf/Art_EN?Open&Query=paul+klee,paul,klee&']Paul Klee[/A] and [A href='https://ArtsDot.com/ADC/Art.nsf/Art_EN?Open&Query=arshile+gorky,arshile,gorky&']Arshile Gorky[/A]. However, his unique style and approach set him apart from his contemporaries. The Washington Color School, which included artists like [A href='https://ArtsDot.com/ADC/Art.nsf/Art_EN?Open&Query=morris+louis,morris,louis&']Morris Louis[/A] and [A href='https://ArtsDot.com/ADC/Art.nsf/Art_EN?Open&Query=kenneth+noland,kenneth,noland&']Kenneth Noland[/A], was marked by its emphasis on color and abstraction. Davis's contribution to this movement was significant, and his work continues to be celebrated for its innovative use of color and composition. [UL] [LI][A href='https://ArtsDot.com/ADC/Art.nsf/Art_EN?Open&Query=long+john,long,john&']Long John[/A] is part of the permanent collection at the [A href='https://ArtsDot.com/ADC/Art.nsf/Art_EN?Open&Query=smithsonian+american+art+museum,smithsonian,american,museum&']Smithsonian American Art Museum[/A], a testament to its importance in the world of modern art.[/LI] [LI]Davis's work can be found on [A href='https://ArtsDot.com']ArtsDot.com[/A], where art enthusiasts can discover and purchase handmade oil painting reproductions of his iconic pieces.[/LI] [LI]For more information on Gene Davis and his artistic style, visit [A href='https://ArtsDot.com/@@/AQRJTB-Gene-Davis-Long-John']ArtsDot.com's page on Gene Davis[/A].[/LI] [/UL] [B]Gene Davis's legacy[/B] continues to inspire artists and art lovers alike. His innovative approach to color and composition has left an indelible mark on the world of modern art. As we continue to explore and appreciate his work, including [A href='https://ArtsDot.com/ADC/Art.nsf/Art_EN?Open&Query=long+john,long,john&']Long John[/A], we are reminded of the power of art to transform and uplift us. [BR] The [A href='https://ArtsDot.com/ADC/Art.nsf/Art_EN?Open&Query=smithsonian+american+art+museum,smithsonian,american,museum&']Smithsonian American Art Museum[/A] is a premier institution for American art, and its collection includes many notable works by Gene Davis. By visiting [A href='https://ArtsDot.com']ArtsDot.com[/A], art enthusiasts can learn more about Davis's life and work, as well as discover other artists and styles that have shaped the world of modern art.

Gene Davis

Acrylic On Canvas