Artwork
Automobile Tires
Automobile Tires is an oil painting by the Ashcan School artist Guy Pène du Bois. It dates from 1915 and is held in the collection of the Brooklyn Museum.
About this work
Overview
Automobile Tires is an oil painting created by Guy Pène du Bois in 1915, currently part of the Brooklyn Museum's collection.
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays a contemplative scene of a couple seated in a dimly lit room, surrounded by evening shadows. The man, in formal attire, and the woman, in a white dress, sit facing each other in apparent deep thought, oblivious to two indistinct figures in the background.
Technique & Style
Rendered in muted tones, the piece relies on an unseen light source, casting long shadows that enhance the serene, introspective atmosphere. The use of shadow and limited light creates a sense of quiet contemplation.
History & Provenance
Created in 1915 by Guy Pène du Bois, the painting is now held in the collection of the Brooklyn Museum.
Context
While the title 'Automobile Tires' suggests a modern, industrial subject, the painting instead captures a moment of domestic, pre-war tranquility, contrasting with the expectations set by its name.
Artist & collection
Artist
Guy Pène du Bois was a 20th-century American painter, art critic, and educator. Born in the U.S. to a French family, his work depicted the culture and society around him: cafes, theatres, and in the twenties, flappers.
Le decavé (Cleared Out)
At the Restaurant
Elsie, Emma and Marjorie, second stone
Cover for "La tribu d'Isodore" (Couverture pour "La tribu d'Isodore")
Salle de jeu (Gambling Room)
Wisdom (Sagesse)
Scène de cabinet particulier (planche en largeur au lavis) (Scene in a Private Room) (horizontal plate with wash)
The Café of the New Athens
Wisdom (Sagesse)
Le Decavé
Salle de jeu (Gambling Room)