Twilight Awakening
1978
Image not available — this artwork is under copyright
View on museum website →Medium
mixed media on printer's wood block
Dimensions
overall: 9.53 × 11.43 × 1.91 cm (3 3/4 × 4 1/2 × 3/4 in.)
Classification
Sculpture
Department
CMC
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of Francine Farr in honor of Dr. Samella Sanders Lewis, with gratitude to Scripps College, Claremont, California
Accession Number
2015.27.1
Art Historical Context
**Twilight Awakening** (1978) by Betye Saar is a intimate mixed-media sculpture crafted on a printer's wood block, measuring just 3¾ × 4½ × ¾ inches. This diminutive work exemplifies Saar's mastery of assemblage, a technique she pioneered in the 1970s by layering found objects, prints, and ephemera to create layered narratives. Repurposing an industrial wood block as her canvas underscores her interest in transforming everyday materials into profound statements, blending sculpture with the tactile depth of relief. Created during a pivotal era of Black feminist art, Saar's piece resonates with...