George Tooker: A Retrospective was the first museum retrospective in three decades of the work of George Tooker (b. 1920), providing a comprehensive examination of his place in American art and revealing the full scope of his achievement as a painter. Jointly organized by the National Academy Museum, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, and the Columbus Museum of Art, the exhibition brings together sixty-six paintings and drawings made since 1945. The National Academy Museum was the first of the three museum venues to host this exhibition, on view October 2, 2008 – January 4, 2009.
See also: George Tooker Obituary
George Tooker’s work became widely known in America during the late 1940’s and early fifties. During the post World War II era in America, the development of Abstract Expressionism soon pushed representational art into the background of the contemporary art scene. A more popular avant-garde’s sensibility pursued and cherished the new, often at the expense of art produced within more established traditions. George Tooker: A Retrospective built upon recent scholarship in order to re-examine the abstract/representational dichotomy by exploring the multiple meanings of postwar realist painting.
In 1944, Tooker met artist Paul Cadmus (1904–1999) at the Art Student’s League. Through Cadmus, Tooker became acquainted with the American Magic Realist Painters, Jared French (1905–1988) and his wife, Margaret Hoening (1889–1973), as well as with the dynamic gay community, which included arts philanthropist Lincoln Kirstein (1907–1996), photographer George Platt Lynes (1907–1955), and other prominent figures in the city’s artistic world. Tooker and his colleagues integrated lessons learned from Cubism, Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism,and Minimalism as readily as they did those of Piero della Francesca (circa 1420–1492).
Self-Portrait, 1947
This circle was clearly interested in a broad stylistic and intellectual position that drew upon abstraction and new approaches to form, while constructing narrative and figurative paintings. This retrospective presented an opportunity to re-examine Tooker’s oeuvre from a fresh and contemporary perspective.
From the beginning of his career George Tooker has examined human experiences of love, death, aging, isolation, alienation, and grief as seen in many seminal works of the 1950’s and 1960’s. His instantly recognizable, enigmatic imagery ranges from complex works of protest of the human condition and often engage with some of the most important societal issues of our time. Much of his subsequent work has evinced humanistic notions of optimism and hope. Since the 1970s and Tooker’s conversion to Catholicism, his paintings have been imbued with a greater sense of spirituality and include more overtly religious and meditative subjects.
Embrace of Peace, 1986
Father and Child, 2000
This exhibition featured every period of Tooker’s long career including his ambitious multi-figure scenes of the 1950s such as
Subway (1950),
Government Bureau, 1956
The Waiting Room, 1959
Lunch 1964
which have often been considered visual analogies to existentialist writings of the period.
Additionally, the exhibition contained a substantial selection of Tooker’s working drawings, rarely exhibited and largely concentrated in the collection of the Addison Gallery of American Art, allowing viewers a fascinating glimpse into the artist’s working methods.
The exhibition was accompanied by a fully-illustrated catalogue featuring essays exploring several aspects of Tooker’s work. The exhibition was co-curated by Robert Cozzolino, Curator at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Marshall Price, Associate Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the National Academy Museum, and Associate Curator of American Art at the Columbus Museum of Art, Melissa Wolfe. Cozzolino, Price, and Wolfe each contributed essays to the catalogue; with three additional essays by Thomas Garver, Anna C. Chave, and Jonathan Weinberg. The catalogue includes new scholarship on Tooker, comprehensive documentation of his career and previously unpublished works.
More Images I
More Images II
EXHIBITION CHECKLIST
1. Children and Spastics, 1946
egg tempera on gesso panel
24 1/2 x 181/2 in. (62.2 x 47 cm)
Collection Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, gift of Mary and Earle Ludgin Collection
2. study for Dance, circa 1946
graphite, chalk, wash and ink on paper
13 x 20 7/16 in. (33 x 51.9 cm)
Gift of the artist (PA 1936) in memory of his parents, George Clair and Angela Montejo Roura Tooker, Addison Gallery of American Art, Phillips Academy, Andover, MA
3. Dance, 1946
egg tempera on gesso panel
13 1/4 x 20 1/2 in. (33.6 x 52 cm)
Collection of Andrew Nelson
4. study for A Game of Chess, 1946
graphite on paper
29 15/16 x 15 in. (76 x 38.1 cm)
Gift of the artist (PA 1936) in memory of his parents, George Clair and Angela Montejo Roura Tooker, Addison Gallery of American Art, Phillips Academy, Andover, MA
5. A Game of Chess, 1946-47
egg tempera on gesso panel
30 x 15 in. (76.2 x 38.1 cm)
Collection of Barney A. Ebsworth
6. study for How Do You Do?, circa 1947
colored pencil, graphite and wash on paper
26 1/6 x 19 in. (66.2 x 48.3 cm)
Gift of the artist (PA 1936) in memory of his parents, George Clair and Angela Montejo Roura Tooker, Addison Gallery of American Art, Phillips Academy, Andover, MA
7. The Groping Hand, circa 1947
egg tempera on watercolor paper
3 1/2 x 2 3/4 in. (8.9 x 7 cm)
Nicholas Miles Pentacost, courtesy DC Moore Gallery, NY
8. Self-Portrait, 1947
egg tempera on gesso panel
18 3/4 in. (47.6 cm) diameter
Curtis Galleries, Minneapolis, MN
9. study for Coney Island, 1947
graphite on paper
22 1/2 x 30 7/8 in. (57.1 x 78.4 cm)
Gift of the artist (PA 1936) in memory of his parents, George Clair and Angela Montejo Roura Tooker, Addison Gallery of American Art, Phillips Academy, Andover, MA
10. Coney Island, 1947-48
egg tempera on gesso panel
19 x 26 in. (48.3 x 66 cm)
Curtis Galleries, Minneapolis, MN
11. Bird Watchers, 1948
egg tempera on gesso panel
26 3/4 x 32 3/4 in, (67.9 x 83.2 cm)
New Britain Museum of American Art
Gift of Olga H. Knoepke
12. study for Cornice, 1949
graphite and wash on paper
27 11/16 x 18 x 1/8 in. (70.4 x 46 cm)
Gift of the artist (PA 1936) in memory of his parents, George Clair and Angela Montejo Roura Tooker, Addison Gallery of American Art, Phillips Academy, Andover, MA
13. Cornice, circa 1949
egg tempera on gesso panel
24 x 15 1/2 in. (61 x 39.4 cm)
Columbus Museum of Art, Ohio: Museum Purchase, Howald Fund II
14. study for Subway, 1949
graphite on paper
24 x 39 3/8 in. (61 x 100 cm)
Gift of the artist (PA 1936) in memory of his parents, George Clair and Angela Montejo Roura Tooker, Addison Gallery of American Art, Phillips Academy, Andover, MA
15. Bathhouses, 1950
egg tempera on gesso panel
20 1/4 x 15 1/4 in. (51.4 x 38.7 cm)
Private Collection
16. Subway, 1950
egg tempera on composition board
18 1/8 x 36 1/8 in. (46 x 91.8 cm)
Whitney Museum of American Art, NY
Purchase, with funds from the Juliana Force Purchase Award
17. study for Laundress, 1952
graphite and chalk on paper
26 1/16 x 26 in. (67.6 x 66 cm)
Gift of the artist (PA 1936) in memory of his parents, George Clair and Angela Montejo Roura Tooker, Addison Gallery of American Art, Phillips Academy, Andover, MA
18. Builders, 1952
egg tempera on gesso panel
16 x 16 in. (40.6 x 40.6 cm)
Wayne Co. Public Library, Inc.
19. Garden Party, 1952
egg tempera on gesso panel
18 x 11 3/4 in. (45.7 x 29.8 cm)
Private Collection, courtesy Debra Force Fine Art, New York
20. Letterbox, 1953
egg tempera on fiberboard
18 1/8 x 24 in. (46 x 61 cm)
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, Museum Purchase, 1993
21. Jukebox, 1953
egg tempera on gesso panel
21 x 14 in. (58.1 x 45.4 cm)
Mr. and Mrs. James C. Biddle
22. Highway, 1953
tempera on panel
22 7/8 x 17 7/8 in. (58.1 x 45.4 cm)
Terra Foundation for American Art, Daniel J. Terra Collection, Chicago, IL, 1992.134
23. Red Carpet, 1953 or 1954
egg tempera on gesso panel
16 x 20 1/4 in. (40.6 x 51.4 cm)
Reis Private Collection
24. The Artist’s Daughter, 1955
egg tempera on gesso panel
24 x 12 1/2 in. (61 x 31.7 cm)
Private Collection
25. Fig Tree, 1955
egg tempera on gesso panel
18 x 24 in. (45.7 x 61 cm)
Private Collection
26. Window II, 1956
egg tempera on gesso panel
24 x 18 in. (61 x 45.7 cm)
Collection of James and Barbara Palmer
27. study for Government Bureau, 1956
graphite, chalk and wash on paper
25 3/4 x 32 13/16 in. (65.4 x 83.4 cm)
Gift of the artist (PA 1936) in memory of his parents, George Clair and Angela Montejo Roura Tooker, Addison Gallery of American Art, Phillips Academy, Andover, MA
28. Government Bureau, 1956
egg tempera on gesso panel
19 5/8 x 29 5/8 in. (49.8 x 75.3 cm)
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, George A. Hearn Fund, 1956
29. Guitar, 1957
egg tempera on gesso panel
18 x 24 in. (45.7 x 61 cm)
Private Collection
30. study for Waiting Room, 1957
graphite on paper
27 3/8 x 35 7/8 in. (69.5 x 91.1 cm)
Gift of the artist (PA 1936) in memory of his parents, George Clair and Angela Montejo Roura Tooker, Addison Gallery of American Art, Phillips Academy, Andover, MA
31. Waiting Room, 1957
egg tempera on wood
24 x 30 in. (61 x 78.4 cm)
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C., Gift of S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
32. In the Summer House, 1958
egg tempera on fiberboard
24 x 24 in. (61 x 61 cm)
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C., Gift of the Sara Roby Foundation
33. Sleepers II, 1959
tempera on wood panel
16 1/8 x 28 in. (41.2 x 71.1 cm)
The Museum of Modern Art, New York. Larry Aldrich Foundation Fund
34. Lovers I, 1959
egg tempera on gesso panel
18 x 24 in. (45.7 x 61 cm)
Private Collection
35. Meadow I, 1960-61
egg tempera on gesso panel
20 x 28 in. (50 x 71.1 cm)
Toledo Museum of Art: Gift of the Woodward Foundation and purchased with funds from the Libbey Endowment, gift of Edward Drummond Libbey, by exchange, 2007.47
36. Toilette, 1962
egg tempera on gesso panel
20 1/2 x 17 1/2 in. (52.1 x 44.4 cm)
Linda Lichtenberg Kaplan
37. Supper, 1963
tempera on board
20 x 24 in. (50.8 x 61 cm)
Memorial Art Gallery of the University of Rochester; Marion Stratton Gould Fund
38. Window VII, 1963
egg tempera on gesso panel
24 1/8 x 21 1/8 in (61.3 x 53.7 cm)
Terra Foundation for American Art, Daniel J. Terra Collection 1992.168
39. study for Lunch, 1964
graphite, chalk and wash on paper
20 7/8 x 26 13/16 in. (53 x 68.1 cm)
Gift of the artist (PA 1936) in memory of his parents, George Clair and Angela Montejo Roura Tooker, Addison Gallery of American Art, Phillips Academy, Andover, MA
40. Lunch, 1964
egg tempera on gesso panel
20 x 26 in. (50.8 x 66 cm)
Columbus Museum of Art, Ohio: museum Purchase, Derby Fund, from the Philip J. and Suzanne Schiller Collection of American Social Commentary Art 1930-1970
41. Landscape with Figures, 1965-66
egg tempera on gesso panel
26 x 30 in. (77 x 76.2 cm)
Barbara B. Millhouse
42. Window VIII, 1966
egg tempera on gesso panel
24 x 20 in. (61 x 50.8 cm)
Private Collection
43. Teller, 1967
egg tempera on gesso panel
23 1/2 x 15 1/2 in. (59.7 x 39.4 cm)
Private Collection, courtesy of EKG Art Advisory, NY
44. Self-Portrait, 1969
egg tempera on gesso panel
24 x 19 1/2 in. (61 x 49.5 cm)
National Academy Museum, NY
45. Mirror III, circa 1970-71
egg tempera on panel
22 x 19 3/4 in. (55.9 x 50. cm)
Indianapolis Museum of Art: Gift of Edwin F. Koch, Jr., M.D., 2006.66
46. Ward, 1970-71
egg tempera on gesso panel
20 x 30 in. (50.8 x 76.2 cm)
Private Collection
47. Voice II, 1972
egg tempera on gesso panel
17 1/2 x 11 1/2 in. (44.5 x 29 cm)
National Academy Museum, NY, 1858-P
48. Supermarket, 1973
egg tempera on gesso panel
23 x 17 _ in. (58.4 x 43.8 cm)
Curtis Galleries, Minneapolis, MN
49. Standing Figures, 1973
egg tempera on gesso panel
18 x 24 in. (45.7 x 61 cm)
Private Collection
50. Pot of Aloes, 1974
egg tempera on gesso panel
24 x 18 in. (61 x 45.7 cm)
Private Lender
51. Woman with Oranges, 1977
egg tempera on gesso panel
23 1/2 x 17 1/2 in. (59.7 x 39.3 cm)
Courtesy D.C. Moore Gallery, NY
52. Orant, 1977
egg tempera on gesso panel
23 1/2 x 15 1/2 in. (59.7 x 39.4 cm)
Private Collection
53. Embrace I, 1979
egg tempera on gesso panel
24 x 18 in. (61 x 45.7 cm)
Collection of Anka K. Palitic
54. Un Ballo in Maschera, 1982
egg tempera on gesso panel
22 x 30 in. (55.9 x 76.2 cm)
Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Mark L. Brock
55. Waiting Room II, 1982
egg tempera on gesso board
19 x 37 in. (48.3 x 94 cm)
Private Collection
57. Girl with a Basket, 1987-88
egg tempera on gesso panel
24 x 18 in. (61 x 45.7 cm)
Private Collection, courtesy James Francis Trezza, NY
58. Embrace of Peace II, 1988
egg tempera on gesso panel
18 x 30 in. (45.7 x 76.2 cm)
Reis Private Collection
59. Woman with a Sprig of Laurel, 1992
egg tempera on gesso panel
18 x 24 in. (45.7 x 61 cm)
Susan and Peter Tuteur
60. Self Portrait, 1992
graphite and white Conté crayon on toned tracing paper
15 x 12 _ in. (38.1 x 32.4 cm)
Philadelphia Museum of Art: purchased with the Alice Newton Osborn Fund, 2003
61. Self Portrait, 1994
egg tempera on gesso panel
14 x 12 in. (35.6 x 30.5 cm)
Private Collection, Boston, MA
62. Dark Angel, 1996
egg tempera on gesso panel
24 x 19 in. (61 x 48.3 cm)
Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia; Henry C. Gibson Fund
63. Man in a Tree, 1998
egg tempera on gesso panel
14 x 17 in. (35.6 x 43.1 cm)
Collection of James and Barbara Palmer
64. Landscape with Figures IV, 1999
egg tempera on gesso panel
19 _ x 29 _ in. (49.5 x 74.9 cm)
Pilar and Vicente Pita, NJ
65. Father and Child, 2000
egg tempera on gesso panel
24 x 20 in (61 x 50.8 cm)
Private Collection
66. Girl Reading, 2003
egg tempera on gesso panel
15 _ x 19 _ in. (38.8 x 49.5 cm)
Courtesy of the artist and DC Moore Gallery, NY
