Where We Are: Selections from the Whitney’s Collection, 1900–1960
Apr 28, 2017–June 2, 2019
Charles Demuth (1883‑1935), Buildings, Lancaster, 1930. Oil and graphite pencil on composition board, 24 1/8 × 20 1/8in. (61.3 × 51.1 cm). Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; gift of an anonymous donor 58.63
Focusing on works made from 1900 to 1960, Where We Are traces how artists have approached the relationships, institutions, and activities that shape our lives. Drawn entirely from the Whitney’s holdings, the exhibition is organized around five themes: family and community, work, home, the spiritual, and the nation. During the six decades covered here, the United States experienced war and peace, economic collapse and recovery, and social discord and progress. American artists responded in complex and diverse ways, and a central aim of the exhibition is to honor each artist’s efforts to create her or his own vision of American life. The artists and their works suggest that our sense of self is composed of our responsibilities, places, and beliefs.
Where We Are, as well as each of its sections, is titled after a phrase in W. H. Auden’s poem “September 1, 1939.” Auden, who was raised in England, wrote the poem in New York shortly after his immigration to the United States and at the very outset of World War II. The title of the poem marks the date Germany invaded Poland. While its subject is the beginning of the war, Auden’s true theme is how the shadow of a global emergency reaches into the far corners of everyday life. Although mournful, the poem concludes by pointing to the individual’s capacity to “show an affirming flame.” Where We Are shares Auden’s guarded optimism, gathering a constellation of artists whose light might lead us forward.
Where We Are is organized by David Breslin, DeMartini Family Curator and Director of the Collection, with Jennie Goldstein, assistant curator, and Margaret Kross, curatorial assistant.
Where We Are: Selections from the Whitney’s Collection, 1900–1960 is sponsored by
Of Eros and Dust
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Searching for alternatives to what many saw as a culture of materialism and war, some American artists sought recourse in spirituality and mysticism. Rather than making particular declarations of faith, the artists represented in this gallery embraced the spiritual through the symbolic, the sublime, the natural, and the abstract. Charles Burchfield, who worked in Ohio and upstate New York, looked to nature for feelings of ecstasy and dread similar to those that religion stirred in him. Painted at the scale of a Renaissance altarpiece, with Gothic elements that evoke medieval churches, Joseph Stella’s 1939 meditation on the Brooklyn Bridge endows the secular with divinity. Clyfford Still, whose monumental painting from 1956 is on view in this gallery, once said: “I never wanted color to be color. I never wanted texture to be texture, or images to become shapes. I wanted them all to fuse into a living spirit.” For Still and the others whose work is shown here, art and the world remain domains of mystery, awe, and wonder.
Georgia O’Keeffe, Music, Pink and Blue No. 2, 1918
Georgia O'Keeffe, Music, Pink and Blue No. 2, 1918. Oil on canvas, 35 x 29 15/16 in. (88.9 x 76 cm). Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; gift of Emily Fisher Landau in honor of Tom Armstrong 91.90. © The Georgia O'Keeffe Foundation/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
Artists
- Charles Henry Alston
- Diane Arbus
- Ruth Asawa
- George C. Ault
- Richmond Barthé
- Thomas Hart Benton
- Wallace Berman
- Henry Billings
- Ilse Bing
- Louise Bourgeois
- Margaret Bourke-White
- Bernarda Bryson Shahn
- Charles Burchfield
- Jacob Burck
- Paul Cadmus
- Alexander Calder
- James Castle
- Elizabeth Catlett
- Nicolai Cikovsky
- Richard Correll
- Ralston Crawford
- John Steuart Curry
- Jay DeFeo
- Charles Demuth
- Elsie Driggs
- Mabel Dwight
- Minnie Evans
- Walker Evans
- Andreas Feininger
- Robert Frank
- Daniel Chester French
- Jared French
- Margaret French
- (Samuel) Wood Gaylor
- Hugo Gellert
- William Glackens
- Arshile Gorky
- George Grosz
- Marsden Hartley
- Palmer Hayden
- Edward Hopper
- Victoria Hutson Huntley
- Jasper Johns
- Alex Katz
- Ellsworth Kelly
- Rockwell Kent
- Henry Koerner
- Dorothea Lange
- Jacob Lawrence
- Helen Levitt
- Roy Lichtenstein
- Jerome Liebling
- Morris Louis
- Louis Lozowick
- George Platt Lynes
- Kyra Markham
- Reginald Marsh
- Archibald John Motley, Jr.
- Alice Neel
- Barnett Newman
- Isamu Noguchi
- Georgia O'Keeffe
- PaJaMa
- Gordon Parks
- Agnes Pelton
- Joseph Pennell
- Fairfield Porter
- Larry Rivers
- Mark Rothko
- Edward Ruscha
- Katherine Schmidt
- Ben Shahn
- Charles Sheeler
- David Smith
- Isaac Soyer
- Raphael Soyer
- Edward Steichen
- Frank Stella
- Joseph Stella
- Florine Stettheimer
- Alfred Stieglitz
- Clyfford Still
- Paul Strand
- George Tooker
- Bill Traylor
- Herman Trunk, Jr.
- James B. Turnbull
- James Van Der Zee
- Abraham Walkowitz
- Andy Warhol
- Weegee
- Brett Weston
- Hale Aspacio Woodruff
- Andrew Wyeth
Events
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Member Preview Days for Where We Are: Selections from the Whitney’s Collection, 1900–1960
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
12–5 pm -
Member Night
Thursday, May 4, 2017
7:30–10 pm -
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Additional Hours in MaySaturday, May 6, 2017
7 pm -
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Additional Hours in MaySaturday, May 20, 2017
7–10 pm
Audio guides
Charles Demuth (1883‑1935), Buildings, Lancaster, 1930. Oil and graphite pencil on composition board, 24 1/8 × 20 1/8in. (61.3 × 51.1 cm). Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; gift of an anonymous donor 58.63
Hear directly from artists and curators on selected works from Where We Are: Selections from the Whitney’s Collection, 1900–1960.
Installation Photography
Installation view of Where We Are: Selections from the Whitney’s Collection, 1900–1960 (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, April 28, 2017–June 2, 2019). From left to right, top to bottom: Jacob Lawrence, War Series: Prayer, 1947; Jacob Lawrence, War Series: Another Patrol, 1946; Jacob Lawrence, War Series: Shipping Out, 1947; Jacob Lawrence, War Series: Alert, 1947; Jacob Lawrence; War Series: The Letter, 1946; Jacob Lawrence, War Series: Docking – Cigarette, Joe?, 1947; Jacob Lawrence, War Series: On Leave, 1947. Photograph by Ron Amstutz
Installation view of Where We Are: Selections from the Whitney’s Collection, 1900–1960 (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, April 28, 2017–June 2, 2019). From left to right: Archibald Motley, Jr., Gettin’ Religion, 1948; John Steuart Curry, Baptism in Kansas, 1928; Thomas Hart Benton, Poker Night (from A Streetcar Named Desire), 1948; Jared French, State Park, 1946. Photograph by Ron Amstutz
Installation view of Where We Are: Selections from the Whitney’s Collection, 1900–1960 (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, April 28, 2017–June 2, 2019). From left to right, top to bottom: Jared French, State Park, 1946; Paul Cadmus, Finistere, 1952; Paul Cadmus, The Bath, 1951; PaJaMa, Margaret French, George Tooker and Jared French, Nantucket, c. 1946; James Van Der Zee, Atlantic City, 1930; PaJaMa, Chuck Howard and Ted Starkowski, 1953; Henry Koerner, Mirror of Life, 1946; Edward Hopper, A Woman in the Sun, 1961. Photograph by Ron Amstutz
Installation view of Where We Are: Selections from the Whitney’s Collection, 1900–1960 (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, April 28, 2017–June 2, 2019). From left to right: Jared French, State Park, 1946; Paul Cadmus, Finistere, 1952; Paul Cadmus, The Bath, 1951; Hugo Gellert, Learning to Think and Work Together, 1943; Hugo Gellert, Modern Science for All, 1943; Hugo Gellert, Title page, 1943; Hugo Gellert, The Four Freedoms, 1943; Hugo Gellert, Free Man’s Duties (#2), 1943; Hugo Gellert, Free Man’s Duties (#1), 1943; Hugo Gellert, Century of the Common Man, 1943. Photograph by Ron Amstutz
Installation view of Where We Are: Selections from the Whitney’s Collection, 1900–1960 (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, April 28, 2017–June 2, 2019). From left to right: Fairfield Porter, Portrait of Ted Carey and Andy Warhol, 1960; Jacob Lawrence, War Series: Prayer, 1947; Arshile Gorky, The Artist and His Mother, 1926–c.1936; Louise Bourgeois, Quarantania, 1941; Frank Stella, Die Fahne hoch!, 1959; Charles Henry Alston, The Family, 1955; Archibald Motley, Jr., Gettin’ Religion, 1948. Photograph by Ron Amstutz
Installation view of Where We Are: Selections from the Whitney’s Collection, 1900–1960 (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, April 28, 2017–June 2, 2019). From left to right, top to bottom: Dorothea Lange, Howard Street, San Francisco, 1934; Victoria Hutson Huntley, Kopper’s Coke, 1932; Kyra Markham, Lockout, 1937; Henry Billings, Machines and Men, 1931; Jerome Liebling, Grain Worker, Minneapolis, MN, 1950; Edward Hopper, Early Sunday Morning, 1930; Frank Stella, Die Fahne hoch!, 1959. Photograph by Ron Amstutz
Installation view of Where We Are: Selections from the Whitney’s Collection, 1900–1960 (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, April 28, 2017–June 2, 2019). From left to right: Jasper Johns, Three Flags, 1958; Edward Hopper, Early Sunday Morning, 1930. Photograph by Ron Amstutz
Installation view of Where We Are: Selections from the Whitney’s Collection, 1900–1960 (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, April 28, 2017–June 2, 2019). From left to right, top to bottom: Larry Rivers, Washington Crossing the Delaware, 1960; Ilse Bing, Play of Sounds, American Flag, 1931; Daniel Chester French, Standing Lincoln, 1912; Joseph Pennell, Hail America, 1908, Bernada Bryson Shahn, 30,000,000 Immigrants, 1935–36; George Grosz, Waving the Flag, 1947–48; Diane Arbus, Max Maxwell Landar, Uncle Sam, N.Y.C., 1961; Jasper Johns, Flag Study, 1959; Andreas Feininger, U.S. Steel, Blooming Mill, 1944; Andreas Feininger, Drop Forge, 1944; Margaret Bourke-White, Industrial Rayon Corporation. Painesville, Ohio, 1939; Jared French, State Park, 1946. Photograph by Ron Amstutz
Installation view of Where We Are: Selections from the Whitney’s Collection, 1900–1960 (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, April 28, 2017–June 2, 2019). From left to right: Andrew Wyeth, Winter Fields, 1942; Walker Evans, Tengle Children, Hale County, Alabama, 1936; Clyfford Still, Untitled, 1956. Photograph by Ron Amstutz
Installation view of Where We Are: Selections from the Whitney’s Collection, 1900–1960 (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, April 28, 2017–June 2, 2019). From left to right: Clyfford Still, Untitled, 1956; Barnett Newman, Day One, 1951–1952; Richmond Barthé, African Dancer, 1933; Jay DeFeo, The Eyes, 1958. Photograph by Ron Amstutz
Installation view of Where We Are: Selections from the Whitney’s Collection, 1900–1960 (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, April 28, 2017–June 2, 2019). From left to right: Jay DeFeo, The Eyes, 1958; Richmond Barthé, African Dancer, 1933; Morris Louis, Tet, 1958. Photograph by Ron Amstutz
Installation view of Where We Are: Selections from the Whitney’s Collection, 1900–1960 (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, April 28, 2017–June 2, 2019). From left to right: Agnes Pelton, Untitled, 1931; Agnes Pelton, Sea Change; Georgia O’Keeffe, Music, Pink and Blue No. 2, 1918; Ruth Asawa, Number 1 – 1955, 1954, refabricated 1958. Photograph by Ron Amstutz
Installation view of Where We Are: Selections from the Whitney’s Collection, 1900–1960 (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, April 28, 2017–June 2, 2019). From left to right: Georgia O’Keeffe, Abstraction, 1926; Georgia O’Keeffe, It Was Blue and Green, 1960; Georgia O’Keeffe, Music, Pink and Blue No. 2, 1918. Photograph by Ron Amstutz
Installation view of Where We Are: Selections from the Whitney’s Collection, 1900–1960 (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, April 28, 2017–June 2, 2019). From left to right, top to bottom: Charles Sheeler, Geranium, c. 1926; Beauford Delaney, Untitled, 1948; Roy Lichtenstein, Bathroom, 1961; Alex Katz, Ada on Blue, 1959; Edward Steichen, Mr. and Mrs. Sandburg, Elmhurst, Illinois (Vanity Fair), 1923; Alice Neel, Blanche Angel Pregnant, 1937; James Van Der Zee, Cousin Susan Porter, 1915; Gordon Parks, Untitled, 1950; Fairfield Porter, Portrait of Ted Carey and Andy Warhol, 1960. Photograph by Ron Amstutz
Installation view of Where We Are: Selections from the Whitney’s Collection, 1900–1960 (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, April 28, 2017–June 2, 2019). From left to right, top to bottom: Charles Sheeler, Geranium, c. 1926; Beauford Delaney, Untitled, 1948; Charles Sheeler, Living Room of New York Apartment of Louise and Walter Arensberg (Southeast Corner), c. 1918; Charles Sheeler, Living Room of New York Apartment of Louise and Walter Arensberg (Northwest Corner), c. 1918; George C. Ault, The Artist at Work, 1946; Roy Lichtenstein, Bathroom, 1961; Bill Taylor, Man in Blue House with Rooster, 1939–1942; Mabel Dwight, The Survivor, Staten Island, 1929; Walker Evans, Westchester, New York, Farmhouse, 1931, printed 1971; Edward Hopper, Cape Cod Sunset, 1934. Photograph by Ron Amstutz
Installation view of Where We Are: Selections from the Whitney’s Collection, 1900–1960 (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, April 28, 2017–June 2, 2019). From left to right, top to bottom: James Castle, (Farm Scene with Road), c. 1910–1977; James Castle, (Farmscape), c. 1910–1977; James Castle, (House), c. 1910–1977; James Castle, (House and Shed), c. 1910–1977; James Castle, (Shed), c. 1910–1977; James Castle, (Interior with Stove), c. 1910–1977; James Castle, (Farmscape), c. 1910–1977; James Castle, (Two Trees), c. 1910–1977; James Castle, (Tree Forms in Landscape), c. 1910–1977; James Castle, (Landscapes with Columnar Forms), c. 1910–1977; James Castle, (Columnar Forms in Landscape), c. 1910–977; James Castle, (Landscape with Sculptural Elements), c. 1910–1977; James Castle, (Shed with Milk Separator), c. 1910–1977; James Castle, (Brown and Black Wall Construction), c. 1910–1977; James Castle, (3 Figures), c. 1910–1977; James Castle, (Studio), c. 1910–1977; James Castle, (Studio), c. 1910–1977. Photograph by Ron Amstutz
Installation view of Where We Are: Selections from the Whitney’s Collection, 1900–1960 (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, April 28, 2017– June 2, 2019). From left to right, top to bottom: James Castle, (Kingwood), c. 1910–1977; James Castle, PEAS, c. 1910–1977; James Castle, (South), c. 1910–1977; James Castle, (DelMonte Peas), c. 1910–1977; James Castle, (book), c. 1910–1977. Photograph by Ron Amstutz
Installation view of Where We Are: Selections from the Whitney’s Collection, 1900–1960 (Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, April 28, 2017–June 2, 2019). From left to right: Isamu Noguchi, Humpty Dumpty, 1946; Alexander Calder, Hanging Spider, c. 1940. Photograph by Ron Amstutz
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In the News
“This stunning installation organized by David Breslin with Jennie Goldstein and Margaret Kross depicts another tumultuous time in American history.”
—The Villager
"The show examines how American artists responded in complex and diverse ways to these events and to simultaneously honor each artist’s efforts to create her or his own vision of American life."
—Artinfo