Mr. Trouble (trial proof 1)
1976
Image not available — this artwork is under copyright
View on museum website →Medium
etching with gray pastel on wove paper
Dimensions
plate: 44.5 x 34.9 cm (17 1/2 x 13 3/4 in.) sheet: 56.1 x 45.4 cm (22 1/16 x 17 7/8 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of Ruth Cole Kainen in honor of the artist's 90th birthday
Accession Number
1999.82.46
Art Historical Context
**Mr. Trouble (trial proof 1)** is a captivating print by American artist Jacob Kainen, created in 1976. 44.5 x 34.9 cm on the, this etching with gray pastel on wove paper captures Kainen's innovative approach to printmaking late in his career. As trial proof—the first experimental impression before the final edition—it offers a rare glimpse into the artist's iterative process, where adjustments to line, tone, and color could be tested on high-quality wove paper, prized for its smooth texture ideal for fine details. Kainen, known for his abstract explorations influenced by mid-20th-century mo...
About the Artist
Jacob Kainen
Jacob Kainen was born on December 7, 1909, in Waterbury, Connecticut, to Russian immigrant parents who nurtured his cultural interests; his father was an inventor, and his mother instilled a love of music and literature. The family relocated to New York City in 1918, where Kainen immersed himself in art through newspaper clippings and visits to the Metropolitan Museum. After graduating from DeWitt...