Departing Soldier

Departing Soldier

The composition as a whole is monochromatic - the colors various shades of black ink on yellowed paper. Three figures are located in the foreground, at the bottom of a staircase, facing out toward the viewer. The staircase has a banister which begins at a balloon-like post at lower left and leads upwards to the right and back into space, until it it is cut off from view by the edge of the composition. The figure foremost in front in the composition is the upper torso of a man dressed in dark clothing with a high collar and white buttons down the front of his shirt and a lighter patch of color on the right side of his upper chest. He has straight dark hair that is covering the left side of his forehead. The man has a long, oval shaped face with a neutral expression in the mouth and eyes that stare out slightly to the left of the viewer. The figure behind the man and to his right has a light, ruffle-like accessory at its neck that is different than the rest of its clothing. This figure also has straight dark hair that covers the forehead,; the eyes appear to be closed, the mouth is not distinguishable, and a small half circle for a nose. The figure’s face is rounder than those of the other two figures in the scene and seems downcast. The third member of the trio is a woman behind both of the other figures who is leaning onto the banister of the staircase with her hand placed on the post. Her clothing is light colored with a pattern of small circles on her forearms. The woman’s face is oval like the man in front of her, and she has dark wavy hair that frames her face. Her expression is neutral and she faces out at the viewer. To the left of the stairs in the middle ground back is a window that fills the upper left-hand corner of the composition. The window is framed on either side with two panel curtains displaying wavy vertical lines. Two black lines intersect in the middle of the window and a half circle can be seen at the top edge. There are two parallel lines that travel up the entire right side of the work, overlapping some of the compositional elements, as well as a horizontal line running across the top of the composition.

Gift of Abbey Weed Grey

This digital image may not be reproduced for any reason without the express written consent of St. Catherine University. Artwork available for faculty/staff use. Please contact the Catherine G. Murphy Art Gallery Director, Kathy Daniels, at (651) 690-6637.

ink

19 1/2 x 13 3/4"

print

1983.15