Arthur Dove

Arthur Garfield Dove (1880-1946) holds a critical place in the history of American art, recognized widely as a pivotal figure in early Modernism and frequently cited as the first American artist to commit fully to abstraction. Active primarily between 1911 and 1940, his work demonstrated a radical break from traditional representation, exploring the spiritual and symbolic nature of forms. Dove’s contributions are highly valued, with key Arthur Dove paintings, such as Abstraction Untitled and Nature Symbolized, held in major institutions, including the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.

Dove’s methodology was characterized by ceaseless experimentation. He employed a notably wide range of media, often integrating unconventional combinations to realize his abstract compositions and symbolic landscapes. During the 1920s, he pursued a significant series of experimental collages, demonstrating an early embrace of mixed media that pushed the boundaries of traditional studio practice. His technical innovation extended to painting surfaces; the 1938 work Tanks, housed at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, exemplifies his method of combining paints like hand mixed oil or tempera over a wax emulsion. This suggests an artist equally invested in the how of painting as the what.

His abstract landscapes proved especially durable subjects, offering profound, often lyrical interpretations of natural phenomena. The work Me and the Moon (1937) is frequently referenced as one of the culminating achievements of his career, illustrating the sophisticated symbolic power he achieved late in his active period. Dove’s relentless dedication to abstraction, particularly when considering the relatively conservative American art environment of the 1910s and 1920s, required a singular focus, sustained largely through his long association with gallerist Alfred Stieglitz. It is perhaps unsurprising that an artist who spent so much time contemplating the essential forms of nature would also produce a rare, highly reductive Portrait of Alfred Stieglitz. The influence of his groundbreaking work means that today, many of his images are sought after as downloadable artwork for those seeking high-quality prints reflecting early American Modernism.