Who painted Dream of the Rarebit Fiend: Bucking Automobile?

Dream of the Rarebit Fiend: Bucking Automobile was painted by Winsor McCay in 1907.

Where can I see Dream of the Rarebit Fiend: Bucking Automobile?

Dream of the Rarebit Fiend: Bucking Automobile is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Dream of the Rarebit Fiend: Bucking Automobile?

Dream of the Rarebit Fiend: Bucking Automobile is associated with Art Nouveau.

Artwork

Dream of the Rarebit Fiend: Bucking Automobile

Winsor McCay , 1907

Dream of the Rarebit Fiend: Bucking Automobile is an ink drawing by the Art Nouveau artist Winsor McCay. It dates from 1907 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:lower right in pen and black ink: SILAS / THANKS TO LONEY HASKELL. / name (arrow); lower right in graphite: [not deciphered]/ lower center in pen and black ink: COPYRIGHT. 1907. BY THE NEW YORK EVENING TELEGRAM. (NEW YORK HERALD CO.).

About this work

Overview

Created in 1907, this pen-and-ink drawing by Winsor McCay forms part of his "Dream of the Rarebit Fiend" series. Executed on paperboard with graphite underdrawing, black ink, brushwork, and a printed overlay, the work depicts a chaotic automobile scene rendered in a comic-strip format.

Subject & Meaning

The image portrays a driver trapped in a wildly out‑of‑control car that leaps, flips, and spins through a simplified urban backdrop. The exaggerated motion and the man's shouted reactions convey the absurdity of a nightmare‑like experience, echoing the series' focus on surreal, humorous fantasies.

Technique & Style

McCay combined hand‑drawn graphite sketches with dense black ink applied by pen and brush, then added a printed overlay to enhance line work. The stark contrast and dynamic line quality emphasize motion, while the minimal architectural details keep attention on the vehicle’s frantic trajectory.

History & Provenance

Produced during the early years of McCay's career, the drawing was originally published as part of the "Rarebit Fiend" comic strip, a popular newspaper feature that explored exaggerated dream scenarios. Its paperboard support reflects the typical newspaper‑print material of the period.

Context

The piece belongs to a broader turn‑of‑the‑century fascination with mechanized speed and the anxieties it provoked. McCay’s work taps into contemporary humor that exaggerated everyday technology into fantastical mishaps, a hallmark of early 20th‑century comic art.