Gene Davis

Quiet Firecracker

1968

© ARS, NY and DACS, London 2019

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Not on display

Artist: Gene Davis 1920–1985
Medium: Acrylic paint on canvas
Dimensions: Support: 2210 x 537 mm
Collection: Tate
Acquisition: Presented by the artist through the American Federation of Arts 1969
Reference: T01116

Catalogue entry

Gene Davis born 1920

T01116 Quiet Firecracker 1968

Inscribed 'Gene Davis | Quiet Firecracker 1968' on canvas folded round stretcher
Acrylic on canvas, 87 x 21 1/8 (221 x 53.5)
Presented by the artist through the American Federation of Arts 1969

The artist stated of this work (letter of 20 August 1970): 'The title has only indirect relationship to the actual painting. It is simply a matter of identification, hopefully poetic. The picture can be hung with the blue and purple stripes on either side. The painting "works" both ways. However, it should always be hung, obviously, with the stripes vertical.'

Published in:
Ronald Alley, Catalogue of the Tate Gallery's Collection of Modern Art other than Works by British Artists, Tate Gallery and Sotheby Parke-Bernet, London 1981, p.142, reproduced p.142