Artist:

Jennie Cell, born Charleston, IL 1905-died Charleston, IL 1988  Search this

Medium:

oil on fiberboard

Dimensions:

16 1/2 x 28 1/8 in. (42.0 x 71.3 cm)

Type:

Painting

Folk Art

Date:

ca. 1955

Luce Center Label:

Jennie Cell painted simple scenes of everyday life inspired by her childhood on a farm. In Butchering Day a group of people clean, dry, cut, and cook meat, and in Pruning Time, men trim dead branches from the trees to encourage new growth. Cell emphasized the collective spirit of activities like these, which required many hands and were occasions for friends and neighbors to help one another. The bare trees and dull colors hint at the bleakness of farm life, but the cheerful workers suggest that Cell's family supported each other through the hard times.

Topic:

Figure group\male  Search this

Landscape\orchard  Search this

Occupation\domestic\gardening  Search this

Credit Line:

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. James M. Mundis

Object number:

1972.55.2

Restrictions & Rights:

Usage conditions apply

See more items in:

Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection

Department:

Painting and Sculpture

Data Source:

Smithsonian American Art Museum

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/vk778d94583-3d91-4f33-b516-8b53b3d63cbe

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:saam_1972.55.2