Artwork from the JSP Estate/Private Collection
Nationality
Dutch-French
Artist Dates
1877-1968
Title of Work
Princesse de Babylone
Preview
Date of Work
1948
Medium
Color lithograph
Height
15 1/4"
Width
11"
Collection/Provenance
Art & Design Study Collection: James Smith Pierce Collection
Status
Stored: R15
Location
UND Art Collections Repository
Artist Bio
Kees van Dongen was born in 1877 in Delfshaven. He studied at the Academy of Rotterdam but never finished his education. He turned towards illustrating magazines instead and in 1897 he went to Paris to work as an illustrator for "Revoue Blanche" and "L'assiette au Beurre." Van Dongen is best known for being associated with the "Fauves" (wild beasts), his admiration for Expressionism in his works, and his intense use of color. Works by Kees van Dongen can be found in the permanent collections of the Van Gogh Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art,, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and the University of North Dakota Art Collections.
Additional Information
This lithograph is part of a series illustrating The Princess of Babylon, a story by the enlightenment philosopher, Voltaire. In the story, suitors of the princess must defeat the lion in order to prove their worthiness to her father, the king. The lion as a symbol of strength and dominance is not unique to this story, of course. Often revered as “king of the jungle”, the lion’s prowess and regality is a symbol utilized in art and literature around the world.
A renowned expressionist painter in the early twentieth century, Kees van Dongen is perhaps best known for his vivid portraiture work. However, he was drawn to exotic subjects and emotionally-intense imagery—both clearly evident in this dramatic depiction of a charging lion.
Acquired as part of the James Smith Pierce Collection.
Included in Fables, Insults, and Reverence: The Animals of UND Art Collections Exhibition at the UND Art Collections Gallery in the Empire Arts Center
Condition
Good
Condition Notes
Hinges with residue on all four sides. Darkening or bleaching from exposure to sun or artificial light.
Rights
Images are provided for educational purposes only and may not be reproduced for commercial use. Images may be protected by artist copyright. A credit line is required to be used for any public non-commercial educational purpose. The credit line must include, “Image courtesy of the University of North Dakota.”