The Phoenix Art Museum held its ‘Object of the Month’ discussion Thursday highlighting Lew Davis’ painting “The Rebel”, a portrait painted during the Great Depression in 1932.
The leader of the talk, Ellen Roby, introduced the painting as well as discussed the history behind it. The subject of “The Rebel,” Elizabeth Ruskin, was an art student of Davis’ while he taught at an all-girls private school in New Jersey.
The painting features Ruskin resting her face in her hand as she slouches in a chair next to a pile of books and a plate of apples.
“She was a girl… who wanted me. I didn’t particularly want her, but I needed a model,” Roby said, quoting Davis.
Roby pointed out the intense stare and closed posture of the woman in the painting. With its stare as the focal point, a member of the audience described the painting as “captivating.”
“It draws you in and wants you to ask yourself what’s going on and what she’s thinking,” said Carole Kauffman, a member of the audience.
Davis’ painting, like many of his other notable works, is in the style of social realism. The style draws attention to everyday conditions of the period.
Art in the 1930’s typically reflected the harsh reality Americans were facing at the time.
The message the artist intended could have multiple interpretations, but Roby suggested that some of Davis’ style choices could have been influenced by the time period.
“Art reflects the culture of its time,” Roby said. “It is who we are.”
Davis’ works also bring awareness to other critical time periods in history. His murals and posters Fort Huachuca, an all-black army base during World War II and depicts the contributions of black soldiers in the war. It later became a factor in President Truman’s decision to desegregate the army.
Davis was awarded the Legion of Merit, an award usually reserved for officers, for his contribution to cultural awareness of black soldiers in Fort Huachuca.
After the war, Davis’ pieces matured into a more abstract style as he focused on geometric shapes and vivid colors. His style changed, but his paintings remained deeply symbolic and continued to inspire an array of interpretations.
“I don’t care what anybody tries to categorize my painting as. I can’t categorize it myself,” Davis said in a quote.
“The Rebel” is apart of “The Figure in Context” exhibition and will be on display until September 2nd.
Contact the reporter at jbornsch@asu.edu.
