Free of Clouds

Art Historical Context

Arthur B. Davies's *Free of Clouds* (19191920) is a captivating lithograph with lithotint in black on wove paper measuring an irregular image of 3937 × 26.99 cm. Created in the years immediately following World War I, this reflects Davies's signature dreamlike style, blending Symbolist influences with early modernist experimentation. As a key figure in American art—known for organizing the landmark 1913 Armory Show—Davies often evoked ethereal landscapes and mystical atmospheres, inviting viewers into serene, otherworldly realms. The lithotint technique, a specialized method in lithography, allowed Davies to achieve soft, painterly gradations akin to watercolor washes, adding depth and subtlety to the monochromatic composition. This innovative approach on wove paper highlights the print's technical sophistication, bridging traditional printmaking with impressionistic effects. The title *Free of Clouds* suggests a moment of clarity and boundless sky, perhaps symbolizing post-war optimism or spiritual freedom. Generously gifted to the National Gallery of Art by David P. Tunick and housed in the CG-W Department, this work exemplifies Davies's enduring legacy in American printmaking, offering visitors a window into early 20th-century artistic innovation.

About the Artist

Arthur B. Davies · 1862–1928

Arthur Bowen Davies (1862–1928) occupies one of the most paradoxical positions in American art history: a painter whose own canvases were lyrical, dreamlike, and rooted in the classical tradition, yet whose organizational energy and curatorial vision helped force American audiences into direct confrontation with the European avant-garde. Born on 26 September 1862 in Utica, New York, to English and...