Artwork
Release at the Gates
Release at the Gates is an ink print by Arthur B. Davies. It dates from 1920 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Arthur B.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower center in graphite: "Release at the Gates"; lower right in graphite: Arthur B. Davies
About this work
Overview
Arthur B. Davies produced the color lithograph Release at the Gates in 1920. Executed as a print rather than a painting, the work presents a tranquil grouping of four figures within an indistinct, softly colored landscape. The palette of muted pinks, blues and greens creates a diffuse atmosphere that suggests a lingering, dreamlike moment.
Subject & Meaning
The composition shows one upright figure holding a guitar while three others recline, their features rendered with incomplete, sketch‑like lines. Though the title evokes notions of liberation or departure, the scene conveys a leisurely pause, inviting viewers to contemplate a quiet interlude rather than a dramatic escape.
Technique & Style
Davies employed the lithographic process, allowing pigments to merge and bleed across the paper, which produces the hazy, watercolor‑like effect. The handling of line is loose and unfinished, reinforcing the sense of spontaneity and reinforcing his modernist inclination toward abstraction within representational subject matter.
History & Provenance
A leading figure in early‑20th‑century American modernism, Davies was instrumental in advancing avant‑garde art in the United States. Release at the Gates reflects his engagement with contemporary trends while retaining his personal visual language, marking a significant example of his printmaking during the post‑World War I period.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
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.
