Artwork Title: Swedish Girls

Swedish Girls, 1968

Alice Neel

In this portrait, the young daughter of friends of the artist is dressed in her girlish knickers and clogs. (Interestingly, the girl was born at Ft. Benning in Columbus). Her older cousin, visiting from Sweden, is dressed in a fashionable mini skirt and tights. Alice Neel captures the Nordic heritage of the attractive, healthy and blond girls. The older girl has a strong, yet affectionate, hold on the younger child. Although she painted continuously from her days as a student in the 1920s until her death in 1984, Neel did not find widespread success until she was past the age of 70. She followed the tradition of painting as an unsparing depiction of real life. In Swedish Girls, the figures stare back at the viewer, observing while being observed. [http://columbusmuseum.pastperfectonline.com/webobject/119E1BEB-2572-45E7-92A8-416889613826]
Uploaded on Dec 19, 2017 by Suzan Hamer

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