Artwork
Torment
Torment is an ink print by Arthur B. Davies. It dates from 1920 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower left in graphite: Frank A. Nankivell print; lower right in brown ink: Arthur B. Davies; lower left verso in graphite by unknown hand: 22 Torment; lower right verso in graphite by unknown hand: 75.00
- Markings
- Marked:Ruth Kainen stamp
About this work
Overview
Torment is a 1920 print by Arthur B. Davies, created using softground etching with aquatint in black on laid paper.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a nude woman lying on her back, her face contorted in a mixture of pain and fear. Dark, abstract markings cover her body, adding to the sense of turmoil and distress. The dark, indistinct background suggests a confined interior space.
Technique & Style
Davies employed softground etching and aquatint to achieve a range of tonal values, from deep blacks to lighter areas. The technique allowed for expressive, abstract markings on the woman's body, contributing to the overall sense of tension.
Context
Torment reflects Davies' engagement with contemporary artistic practices during the 1910s and 1920s, a period when he was a key figure in promoting modern art in the United States.
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.
