Dorothy Dehner (1901–1994) was an influential American multidisciplinary artist who worked with drawing, painting, printmaking, and most notably sculpture.
Despite her artistic contributions, Dehner's legacy was overshadowed for many years by her ex-husband, the acclaimed sculptor David Smith. Stifled by their tumultuous relationship, Dehner only fully committed to her practice after divorcing in 1951. This break was highly fruitful for her output and her reputation in the years following.
After the divorce, Dehner refined her artistic voice and expanded her practice to include printmaking and sculpture. Her new-found independence and renewed ambition led to a pivotal relationship with the esteemed printmaking studio . Working there she formed a close and enduring friendship with .
Simultaneously spontaneous and architectural, Dehner's oeuvre resists categorization. Marked intricate linework and structural geometric forms, the artist blends organic abstraction with an innate sense of rhythm and balance.
This impressive work on paper demonstrates Denher's distinct brand of abstraction, marked by fine, precise lines that converge and intercept at various degrees. While the work is untitled it raises the question of whether the artist is actually depicting or referencing some sort of animal such as a cat, marten or fox. Diffused swathes of cinnabar, persimmon and raspberry punctuate the composition demonstrating Dehner's mastery of watercolor in abstract compositions.
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“Untitled” (DEH-00034) aka. Marten
USA, 1950
Ink and watercolor on paper
Signed and dated lower left
18.25"H 22.75"W (work)
22.5"H 26.25"W (framed)
Very good condition
