Fragments of a Faith Forgotten: The Art of Harry Smith

Oct 4, 2023–Jan 28, 2024

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New York, 1950s through the 1970s

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  • A black and white etched print of an arch. Within the arch is a warped, textured cone with branches growing out of the base. Towards the top of the cone, on the left side, is a sun with a face. Parallelled on the right is a full moon.
    A black and white etched print of an arch. Within the arch is a warped, textured cone with branches growing out of the base. Towards the top of the cone, on the left side, is a sun with a face. Parallelled on the right is a full moon.

    Harry Smith, Untitled [Study for Inkweed Studios greeting card], c. 1952. India ink on scratchboard, 8 × 6 in. (20 × 15 cm). Private collection

  • Against a black background is a white sphere with a Star of David in the center. Orbiting the Star of David are the symbols of astrological signs.
    Against a black background is a white sphere with a Star of David in the center. Orbiting the Star of David are the symbols of astrological signs.

    Harry Smith, Untitled [Zodiacal hexagram sctratchboard], c. 1952. Ink on cardstock, 7 × 5 1/2 in. (17.8 × 14 cm). Lionel Ziprin Archive, New York

  • An abstract painting of purple, blue, green, and orange hues blending into one another. Thin lines of black swirl across the piece. A small equilateral triangle formed by negative space sits at the center of the piece.
    An abstract painting of purple, blue, green, and orange hues blending into one another. Thin lines of black swirl across the piece. A small equilateral triangle formed by negative space sits at the center of the piece.

    Harry Smith, Untitled, c. 1951. Watercolor, pencil, ink, and gouache on paper with cut-out, approx. 14 × 11 in. (35.6 × 27.9 cm). Collection of John Zorn

  • A black and white etched print of a figure with wings, holding a potted tree in their left hand and a trident in their right. Two horns shoot up from the top of their head, where a small crown sits.
    A black and white etched print of a figure with wings, holding a potted tree in their left hand and a trident in their right. Two horns shoot up from the top of their head, where a small crown sits.

    Harry Smith, Untitled [Demoniac self-portrait], c. 1952. Scratchboard, 8 1/2 × 5 1/2in. (21.6 × 14 cm). Lionel Ziprin Archive, New York

  • A plum rectangle with an anaglyph drawing of geometric shapes, numbers, and a figure. The background is cream colored with rows of plum hieroglyphics.
    A plum rectangle with an anaglyph drawing of geometric shapes, numbers, and a figure. The background is cream colored with rows of plum hieroglyphics.

    Harry Smith, Untitled 3-D Greeting Card [“are you looking for the third dimension?”], 1953. Silkscreened ink on paper, 5 3/4 × 5 3/4 in. (14.6 cm × 14.6 cm). Estate of Jordan Belson

  • Geometric patterns and bright colors swirl across a black background.
    Geometric patterns and bright colors swirl across a black background.

    Harry Smith, Untitled, c. 1952. Watercolor and ink on paper, 9 × 6 in. (22.9 × 15.2 cm). Lionel Ziprin Archive, New York

  • Against a black background, beige string is arranged to create a symmetrical geometric pattern of taut lines and loops.
    Against a black background, beige string is arranged to create a symmetrical geometric pattern of taut lines and loops.

    Harry Smith, String figure, 1960. String, glue, and poster board, 8 × 20 in. (20.4 × 50.1 cm). Collection of Rufus Cohen

  • A black background with yellow twins glued on making triangular geometric shapes.
    A black background with yellow twins glued on making triangular geometric shapes.

    Harry Smith, String figure, 1960. String, glue, and poster board, 8 × 20 in. (20.4 × 50.1 cm). Collection of Rufus Cohen

  • Against a black background, beige string is arranged to create a symmetrical geometric pattern of taut lines and loops.
    Against a black background, beige string is arranged to create a symmetrical geometric pattern of taut lines and loops.

    Harry Smith, String figure, 1960. String, glue, and poster board, 8 × 20 in. (20.4 × 50.1 cm). Collection of Rufus Cohen

  • Sheet of paper with string figures and some pages have writing on them.
    Sheet of paper with string figures and some pages have writing on them.

    Harry Smith, String figures, illustrations and notes, c. 1970. Ink on paper, each 9 1/2 × 6 in. (24.1 × 15.2 cm). Harry Smith Papers, Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles; gift of the Harry Smith Archives 2013.M.4. © J. Paul Getty Trust

  • Sheet of paper with string figures and some pages have writing on them.
    Sheet of paper with string figures and some pages have writing on them.

    Harry Smith, String figures, illustrations and notes, c. 1970. Ink on paper, each 9 1/2 × 6 in. (24.1 × 15.2 cm). Harry Smith Papers, Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles; gift of the Harry Smith Archives 2013.M.4. © J. Paul Getty Trust

  • Sheet of paper with string figures and some pages have writing on them.
    Sheet of paper with string figures and some pages have writing on them.

    Harry Smith, String figures, illustrations and notes, c. 1970. Ink on paper, each 9 1/2 × 6 in. (24.1 × 15.2 cm). Harry Smith Papers, Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles; gift of the Harry Smith Archives 2013.M.4. © J. Paul Getty Trust

  • Sheet of paper with string figures and some pages have writing on them.
    Sheet of paper with string figures and some pages have writing on them.

    Harry Smith, String figures, illustrations and notes, c. 1970. Ink on paper, each 9 1/2 × 6 in. (24.1 × 15.2 cm). Harry Smith Papers, Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles; gift of the Harry Smith Archives 2013.M.4. © J. Paul Getty Trust

  • Trees, toadstools, and the figure of the tin man frame the view of a tall castle atop a hill.
    Trees, toadstools, and the figure of the tin man frame the view of a tall castle atop a hill.

    Harry Smith, still from Film No. 16: Oz: The Tin Woodman’s Dream, c. 1967. 35mm film, color, silent; 15 min. Courtesy of Anthology Film Archives, New York, NY; restored by Anthology Film Archives and the Film Foundation with funding provided by the Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation. © Anthology Film Archives

  • An image of geometric shapes in shades of grey and pink, with a border of white around it.
    An image of geometric shapes in shades of grey and pink, with a border of white around it.

    Harry Smith, Typewriter drawing [no. 24 on verso], c. 1975. Ink on paper, 11 × 8 7/16 in. (28 × 21.5 cm). Harry Smith Papers, Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles; gift of the Harry Smith Archives 2013.M.4. © J. Paul Getty Trust

  • An image of geometric shapes in shades of grey and pink, with a border of white around it.
    An image of geometric shapes in shades of grey and pink, with a border of white around it.

    Harry Smith, Typewriter drawing, c. 1970–72. Ink on paper, 11 × 8 7/16 in. (28 × 21.5 cm) . Harry Smith Papers, Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles; gift of the Harry Smith Archives 2013.M.4.2. © J. Paul Getty Trust

  • A sheet of white paper with black ink writing and drawings on it that has been folded into a paper airplane
    A sheet of white paper with black ink writing and drawings on it that has been folded into a paper airplane

    Harry Smith, [Folded paper airplane: Many Smokes and Spring Seasonings], 1967 . Graphite and printed black in on paper , 5 7/8 × 7 15/16 × 3 in. (15 × 20.2 × 7.6 cm) . Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles; gift of Anthology Film Archives 2013.M.4.34 . © J. Paul Getty Trust.

  • A sheet of white paper with drawings in blue, green, pink, and orange, folded into a paper airplane.
    A sheet of white paper with drawings in blue, green, pink, and orange, folded into a paper airplane.

    Harry Smith, [Folded paper airplane: April 28], 1967. Graphite and printed color ink on paper, 3 × 6 × 10 in. (7.6 × 15.2 × 25.4 cm). Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles; gift of Anthology Film Archives 2013.M.4.14.

On the Hour

A 30-second online art project:
Maya Man, A Realistic Day In My Life Living In New York City

Learn more about this project

Learn more at whitney.org/artport

On the Hour projects can contain motion and sound. To respect your accessibility settings autoplay is disabled.