1923
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Figures of Earth is a 1923 ink by Arthur Bowen Davies, held at National Gallery of Art.
This print shows three nude figures tangled together. The background looks rough and dark, like a stormy sky or a rocky cliff. The people are twisted into each other, with one standing and two kneeling or leaning. Their bodies are drawn in bold, simple lines with no soft shading. The artist used a technique that leaves a grainy texture, almost like scratching into stone. This makes the figures feel raw and urgent. The title *Figures of Earth* hints at a connection to nature or the land. If you like this style, look up lithography to see how it works.
Arthur Bowen Davies (September 26, 1862 – October 24, 1928) was an avant-garde American artist and influential advocate of modern art in the United States c. 1910–1928.
See the richer artist page
