Strong Girl
c. 1915
Medium
etching and drypoint
Dimensions
Image: 280 x 134 mm Sheet: 282 x 242 mm
Classification
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Reba and Dave Williams Collection, Gift of Reba and Dave Williams
Accession Number
2008.115.2964
Art Historical Context
**Strong Girl**, an etching and drypoint by Kuhn from around 1915, captures the bold spirit of American vaudeville performers during a transformative era in U.S. art. Kuhn, a key organizer of the groundbreaking 1913 Armory Show, fascinated by the raw energy of and circus life. This print likely depicts a "strongwoman," a popular act showcasing female physical prowess amid the cultural shift toward modernism and urban entertainment in early 20th-century America. The medium—etching combined with drypoint—highlights Kuhn's mastery of printmaking. Etching creates precise lines through acid on a m...