untited (After Millet's Gleaners)

Art

-

Gadsden Arts Center & Museum

Name/Title

untited (After Millet's "Gleaners")

Entry/Object ID

2018.4.12

Description

An example of Mumma's art history inspired paintings, this work is a variation of Jean-Francois Millet's "Gleaners", painted in 1857. This is the second work that Mr. Eddy did retelling Millet's iconic painting, with this second version bearing more detail than the first. Millet's recognizable three figures pick up grains that have been left following a recent harvest, as two figures watch in the background shielded by a wall of bright yellow haystacks. The women's facial features are created in dark black against red faces, the figure in the center seeming to acknowledge the viewer straight-on. Millet's original painting drew much controversy due to its frank depiction of labor on a largely idealized scale. Mumma grants us access to the faces of the figures, which Millet's work does not do. Millet's original also does not emphasize the background figures as much as Mumma does, although he does include fewer of them. By brightening the color palette, enlarging the figures, and creating previously nonexistent details, Mumma manages to make his work both uniquely playful and reminiscent of its culturally significant predecessor.

Artwork Details

Medium

Canvas Board, Acrylic Paint

Collection

Southern Vernacular Art Collection

Acquisition

Accession

2018.4

Source or Donor

Mr. Josh Feldstein

Acquisition Method

Donation

Credit Line

Josh Feldstein

Made/Created

Artist Information

Artist

Mumma, Eddy

Role

Artist

Date made

1966 - 1986

Dimensions

Height

15-1/2 in

Width

11-11/16 in

Interpretative Labels

Label

Edward "Mr. Eddy" Mumma (1908-1986) Edward Mumma was born in Milton, Ohio, and after his wife's death in 1966 retired to Gainesville, Florida. Most of Edward Mumma's work consists of abstract versions of portraits focusing on faces and hands. His portraits almost always depict the same close-up, expressionless round face, with variations of colors, hand placements, and dress. Often, Mumma painted on both sides of his canvas or board paintings, and crudely framed them with scrap wood or plastic.

Created By

admin@catalogit.app

Create Date

March 13, 2018