Guy Pène Du Bois

The Social Lion
1921

Illustration of two women and a man in 1920s fashion standing on a blue rug with black floral designs. The woman on the left wears a sleeveless, orange dress with draping beads and carries a red purse, while the woman on the right is in a sleeveless, pink dress with a low back. The man in the center is dressed in a black tuxedo with a white waistcoat and bow tie, holding a top hat and cane. The caption "THE SOCIAL LION" is printed below, with a humorous note comparing social lions to political ones. The image is bordered by a peach-colored frame on a white background.
Illustration of two women and a man in 1920s fashion standing on a blue rug with black floral designs. The woman on the left wears a sleeveless, orange dress with draping beads and carries a red purse, while the woman on the right is in a sleeveless, pink dress with a low back. The man in the center is dressed in a black tuxedo with a white waistcoat and bow tie, holding a top hat and cane. The caption "THE SOCIAL LION" is printed below, with a humorous note comparing social lions to political ones. The image is bordered by a peach-colored frame on a white background.

Not on view

Date
1921

Classification
Drawings

Medium
Watercolor, pen and ink, and graphite pencil on paper

Dimensions
Sheet: 22 1/2 × 15 1/2in. (57.2 × 39.4 cm) Image: 17 1/2 × 13 1/2in. (44.5 × 34.3 cm)

Accession number
2014.74.5

Credit line
Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; gift of Flora Miller Biddle

Rights and reproductions
Courtesy the Estate of Guy Pene du Bois

API
artworks/45210

Part of a series:
A True History of Eight West Eighth
17 works

Illustration depicting a group of seven stylized figures, likely men, standing in a row with solemn expressions. The figures are dressed in dark formal attire, and one holds a cane. The background is mostly blank with a dark lower half, suggesting a shadow or a dark room. Below the image, there is a caption that reads "A MEETING OF THE SOCIETY FOR THE PROPAGATION OF INDIGENCE AMONG ARTISTS." The top right corner contains handwritten text "Georg Grosz Ber. Okt. 1919."
Illustration of a distinguished-looking man standing with his hands in his pockets, wearing a suit, tie, and glasses. He appears to be in a contemplative pose. The drawing is framed within a double border, and the caption "BILLY THE DRAUGHTSMAN" is written below the figure. The background is a pale yellow, and the artwork has a vintage feel.
An aged document titled "A PICTORIAL HISTORY OF EIGHT WEST EIGHTH" by Guy Pène du Bois, featuring ornate text and a decorative border, with signs of wear and discoloration around the edges.
Illustration of a portly man with curly hair, wearing glasses, a double-breasted coat, and a cravat. The image is bordered by a peach and black frame, and there is a caption at the bottom that reads, "'GOD GIVE ME STRENGTH' he says as though God in him had not already repeated his Californian elephant." The artwork has a vintage feel and appears to be hand-drawn and colored.
A watercolor illustration depicting a nude male model standing with his back to the viewer in an artist's studio, facing four clothed men. One of the men is sketching on a small canvas, another is observing the model, and the third is standing beside a stool with a small sculpture on it. The fourth man, with a beard, is looking towards the viewer. The bottom of the image includes a caption that reads "INDIGENOUS WORKERS" and lists the names Mahonri Young, John Flanagan, Hunt Diederich, and Jo Davidson as the home brewers of the exhibition at the studio. The caption also humorously notes that the model is not afraid and that their worst work is always done when they are no longer able to model. The drawing is framed with a light border, and the paper shows signs of age.
Illustration of a man in a white suit with a stern expression, standing in front of a background with various words and phrases such as "ANARCHY," "INDIVIDUALISM," "BOLSHEVISM," and "MYSTICISM." The artwork has a vintage feel and includes a mix of handwritten text and block letters, with a caption at the bottom reading "IVAN THE TERRIBLE."
Illustration of a person standing in a relaxed pose, wearing a long coat, gloves, and holding a cane. The figure appears to be sketched in a simple style with minimal colors, predominantly in shades of beige, white, and yellow for the cane. The background is plain with a double border framing the image, and the word "PNEUMONIA" is written at the bottom. The paper shows signs of aging and wear around the edges.
Illustration of a man in profile view, standing and looking at a framed picture on the wall. He wears a blue suit and holds a brown hat behind his back. The framed picture depicts three green cacti against a yellow background. Below the illustration is a caption that reads "THE AUTHOR" followed by a quote. The artwork has a peach-colored border and is mounted on a larger sheet of paper with signs of aging and wear.
Illustration of a group of people, possibly at a ceremonial event, with a central figure in black silhouette against a backdrop of colorful, abstract shapes resembling tents or flags. The foreground shows onlookers from behind, with two figures in the bottom corners facing away, and the title "THE CREATION OF A VETERAN" at the bottom. The image has a watercolor quality with a pastel color palette, enclosed within a double-lined border.
Illustration of a man standing to the right with a beard and mustache, wearing a light-colored suit, holding a cane, and facing a row of five bust sculptures on pedestals to his left. The sculptures appear to have exaggerated facial expressions. The background is minimalistic with a peach-colored border. Below the image, text reads "THE ENTERTAINER HE IS NOT WITHOUT CERTAIN DOUBTS - LIFE IS EXPENSIVE - ART IS NOT SO LONG - BUT SCULPTORS ARE SOMETIMES MISTAKEN FOR JESTERS - ITS COMIC YOU KNOW."

Guy Pène Du Bois
56 works in the collection

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