Arthur Dove, Green Light, 1941

Wax emulsion on canvas

In 1912, Arthur Dove became the first American to display nonillusionistic art and was at the forefront of the modern art movement. Through his association with Alfred Steiglitz, Dove met Duncan and Marjorie Phillips, founders of the Phillips Collection in Washington, DC, and the first contemporary art museum in the United States. The Phillips' eventually amassed the largest single collection of Dove paintings, and in 1950 donated Green Light to the Watkins Collection.

 

 

Jack Tworkov, Figure, 1953

Oil on canvas

An influential member of the New York School, Abstract Expressionist Jack Tworkov was associated with American University throughout his career. He taught periodically in the art department, and exhibited in the Watkins Gallery several times. In 1953, Tworkov took part in a Watkins Gallery exhibition along with deKooning, Pollock, Guston, and Vincente. The exhibit brought Abstract Expressionism to Washington for the first time. Figure was a gift of Helene M. Herzbrun, former AU Professor and Chairman of the Department of Art.

 

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