The Wall Street Journal yesterday reported on the 45 works of art chosen by the First Lady from various government collections to adorn the White House.
Loaned art in the Residence
• Josef Albers – Homage to the Square: Elected II – Hirshhorn Museum
• Josef Albers – Homage to the Square: Midday – Hirshhorn Museum
• Josef Albers – Study for Homage to the Square: Nacre – Hirshhorn Museum
• George Catlin – A Crow Chief at His Toilette – National Gallery of Art
• George Catlin – Camanchees Lancing a Buffalo Bull – National Gallery of Art
• George Catlin – Mired Buffalo and Wolves – National Gallery of Art
• George Catlin – Cheyenne Village – National Gallery of Art
• George Catlin – Grizzly Bears Attacking Buffalo – National Gallery of Art
• George Catlin – Game of the Arrow-Mandan – National Gallery of Art
• George Catlin – A Foot War Party in Council-Mandan – National Gallery of Art
• George Catlin – Ball-Play Dance-Choctaw – National Gallery of Art
• George Catlin – Buffalo Chase, with Accidents – National Gallery of Art
• George Catlin – Catlin and Indian Attacking Buffalo – National Gallery of Art
• George Catlin – K’nisteneux Indians Attacking Two Grizzly Bears – National Gallery of Art
• Edward Corbett – Washington, D.C. November 1963 III – National Gallery of Art
• Edgar Degas – Dancer Putting on Stocking – Hirshhorn Museum
• Edgar Degas – The Bow – Hirshhorn Museum
• Richard Diebenkorn – Berkeley, No. 52 – National Gallery of Art
• Nicolas De Stael – Nice – Hirshhorn Museum
• Sam Francis – White Line – National Gallery of Art
• Winslow Homer – Sunset – National Gallery of Art
• Jasper Johns – Numerals, 0 through 9 – National Gallery of Art
• William H. Johnson – Legend – Smithsonian American Art Museum
• William H. Johnson – Children Dance – Smithsonian American Art Museum
• William H. Johnson – Flower to Teacher – Smithsonian American Art Museum
• William H. Johnson – folk Family – Smithsonian American Art Museum
• Glenn Ligon – Black Like Me #2 – Hirshhorn Museum
• Giorgio Morandi – Still Life – National Gallery of Art
• Giorgio Morandi – Still Life – National Gallery of Art
• Louise Nevelson – Model for “Sky Covenant” – National Gallery of Art
• Susan Rothenberg – Butterfly – National Gallery of Art
• Mark Rothko – Red Band – National Gallery of Art
• Edward Ruscha – I think I’ll . . . – National Gallery of Art
• Alma Thomas – Sky Light – Hirshhorn Museum
• Leon Polk Smith – Stretch of Black III – National Gallery of Art
• Unknown Artist – Chief Jumper of the Seminoles – National Gallery of ArtLoaned art in the West Wing
• Frank O. Salisbury – President Harry S. Truman – Harry S. Truman Library, Independence, Missouri – Cabinet Room
• Lucy M. Lewis (Acoma Pueblo) – Vase – National Museum of the American Indian – Oval Office
• Jeri Redcorn (Caddo) – Bottle: Intertwining Scrolls – National Museum of the American Indian – Oval Office
• Steve S. (Iroquois) – Jar – National Museum of the American Indian – Oval Office
• Maria Poveka Martinez (San Ildefonso Pueblo) – Jar – National Museum of the American Indian – Oval Office
• Samuel F. B. Morse – Telegraph Register patent model – National Museum of American History – Oval Office
• John A. Peer – Gear Cutter patent model – National Museum of American History – Oval Office
• Fletcher Felter – Propeller Blade patent model – National Museum of American History – Oval OfficeLoaned art in the East Wing
• Alma Thomas – Watusi (Hard Edge) – Hirshhorn Museum – East Wing
In today’s Washington Post, art critic Blake Gopnik quotes White House curator William Allman’s observation that the Obamas’ choices express “probably more interest in truly modern art” than the previous administration. The redoubtable Gopnik —whose article is accompanied by a slide show— then examines the selections for deeper meaning:
Working with curators at the White House and at the local museums that made loans, the First Couple selected some works whose politics are explicit, and mild. They seem to redress past imbalances in the nation’s sense of its own art. There are works by African Americans (seven paintings from three artists, out of a total of 47) and by Native Americans (four artists contributed three modern ceramics and one abstract painting). There are also 12 paintings depicting Native Americans, by the 19th-century ethnographic artist George Catlin.
But there are still only six works by women, vs. 41 by men. And there are no works at all by Latinos. (A work by the deceased Cuban American artist Félix González-Torres would have filled the gap perfectly, and added a nod to the country’s gay culture. The Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum has one that could have been borrowed.)
Alma Thomas’ 1973 abstract Sky Light hangs in the private residence…….
.….as does William H. Johnson’s 1944 painting Folk Family.
The First Lady chose Alma Thomas’ 1963 Watusi (Hard Edge) for the East Wing.
Mrs. Obama chose several works by George Catlin for the private residence — among them Buffalo Chase, with Accidents (1861/1869).
Frank O. Salisbury’s 1946 portrait of Harry S Truman now hangs in the Cabinet Room in the West Wing.
Josef Albers’ 1961 Homage to the Square: Elected II was one of three Albers works borrowed from the Hirshhorn collection for the private residence:
So far no wags seem to have singled out one of the First Lady’s most interesting choices — Ed Ruscha’s 1983 painting “I Think I’ll….” — which indicates a refined taste or a sense of humor or both. There’s no indication where this giant 5’5″ x 6’3″ canvas hangs in the private residence:
