Assistance in Drawing
- Artist
- Albert Oehlen, German, born 1954
- Date
- 1995
- Classification
- Drawings & watercolors
- Current Location
- Not on view
- Dimensions
- 54 3/4 x 43 1/16 in. (139 x 109.4 cm)
framed: 60 in. x 48 1/8 in. x 2 1/4 in. (152.4 x 122.2 x 5.7 cm) - Credit Line
- Partial and promised gift of Betsy Millard, the Earl and Betsy Millard Collection
- Rights
- © Albert Oehlen
- Object Number
- 80:2003
NOTES
Albert Oehlen's "Assistance in Drawing" is a study in contrasts. It sets up a dialogue between a colorful swirl of painterly shapes in the foreground and writhing, wiry pen doodles in the background. It also pairs up the loose, even messy, application of pigment with carefully rendered forms. Oehlen uses various materials and artistic styles that can be associated with the traditional concepts of high and low art. Meticulous shapes and the application of ink and gouache speak to the paradigms of high or fine art, while the ballpoint markings and loose forms approach low art. With this presentation, the artist reveals the similarities and differences between two contradicting visual styles.
Provenance
1995
Nolan/Eckman Gallery, New York, NY, USA, purchased from artist [1]
1995 -
Earl Millard (d.1996) and Betsy Millard, St. Louis, MO, purchased from Nolan/Eckman Gallery [2]
2003 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, partial and promised gift of Betsy Millard [3]
Notes:
The primary source of provenance is Betsy Millard [information for appraisals form, SLAM document files]. Other supporting documents are noted.
[1] An E-mail dated April 9, 2005 from Katherine Chan, director of Nolan/Eckman Gallery to Sydney Norton, SLAM researcher, reveals that the work was acquired directly from the artist.
[2] Invoice dated November 30, 1995 [SLAM document files].
[3] The terms of this partial and promised gift are detailed in the contract between Betsy Millard and the Saint Louis Art Museum, signed (no day or month) 2003 [SLAM document files]. Minutes of the Collections Committee of the Board of Trustees, Saint Louis Art Museum, June 3, 2003.
Nolan/Eckman Gallery, New York, NY, USA, purchased from artist [1]
1995 -
Earl Millard (d.1996) and Betsy Millard, St. Louis, MO, purchased from Nolan/Eckman Gallery [2]
2003 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, partial and promised gift of Betsy Millard [3]
Notes:
The primary source of provenance is Betsy Millard [information for appraisals form, SLAM document files]. Other supporting documents are noted.
[1] An E-mail dated April 9, 2005 from Katherine Chan, director of Nolan/Eckman Gallery to Sydney Norton, SLAM researcher, reveals that the work was acquired directly from the artist.
[2] Invoice dated November 30, 1995 [SLAM document files].
[3] The terms of this partial and promised gift are detailed in the contract between Betsy Millard and the Saint Louis Art Museum, signed (no day or month) 2003 [SLAM document files]. Minutes of the Collections Committee of the Board of Trustees, Saint Louis Art Museum, June 3, 2003.