Two Figures
Image not available — this artwork is under copyright
View on museum website →Medium
linocut in black on laid paper
Dimensions
image: 204 x 153 mm sheet: 290 x 228 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
2008.115.689
Art Historical Context
"Two Figures," a striking linocut from 1937 by an anonymous American artist of the 20th century captures the era's minimalist aesthetic through bold, high-contrast forms. Created as a black ink print on laid paper—measuring 204 x 153 mm in the image area—this work exemplifies the accessibility of relief printing techniques during the Great Depression. Linocut, using carved linoleum blocks, allowed artists to produce multiple impressions affordably, making art reachable to everyday audiences amid economic hardship. In the 1930s, American printmaking flourished under federal programs like the W...
About the Artist
American 20th Century
"American 20th Century" is the designation used by major institutions such as the National Gallery of Art (NGA) for anonymous and unidentified artists active in the United States during the twentieth century. The artist's personal identity, early life, and training remain undocumented, reflecting the challenges of attribution for unattributed works from this era. No specific teachers, art schools,...