George Grosz

The Painter of the Hole
1947

A whimsical watercolor painting depicting a skeletal figure with wild hair seated at an easel, painting a circular, flower-like form. The figure is surrounded by a chaotic studio environment with additional canvases, some featuring similar circular motifs. A mouse perches atop one of the canvases, while another stands on the ground, and a third mouse appears to be painting on a miniature easel. The background is a dreamy blend of pinks and blues, with abstract shapes and a brick archway to the right. The scene is both fantastical and disordered, with a sense of creative energy and decay.

A whimsical watercolor painting depicting a skeletal figure with wild hair seated at an easel, painting a circular, flower-like form. The figure is surrounded by a chaotic studio environment with additional canvases, some featuring similar circular motifs. A mouse perches atop one of the canvases, while another stands on the ground, and a third mouse appears to be painting on a miniature easel. The background is a dreamy blend of pinks and blues, with abstract shapes and a brick archway to the right. The scene is both fantastical and disordered, with a sense of creative energy and decay.

Not on view

Date
1947

Classification
Drawings

Medium
Watercolor on paper

Dimensions
Sheet (Irregular): 25 9/16 × 18 15/16in. (64.9 × 48.1 cm)

Accession number
48.8

Credit line
Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; purchase

Rights and reproductions
© Estate of George Grosz / Licensed by VAGA at Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

API
artworks/1835

Exhibitions

George Grosz
8 works in the collection

View artist