Accession Number1954/2.49
TitleSouth Polar Quadrille
Artist(s)John TunnardObject Creation Date1947Medium & Supportink, colored crayons, watercolor and gouache on white wove paperDimensions 15 1/8 x 22 1/16 in. (38.4 x 56 cm);26 1/8 x 32 1/8 in. (66.2 x 81.5 cm);15 3/16 x 22 1/8 in. (38.42 x 56.04 cm)
Credit LineMuseum PurchaseLabel copyThis imaginary depiction of the Antarctic landscape reveals Tunnard’s skills as a subtle watercolorist. The painter creates dazzling effects of light and transparency—from the iridescent effects of the aurora australis, rainbows, and constellations of the Southern Cross. The combination of strange, bonelike figures of indeterminate dimensions in an unfathomable setting evokes the mysterious worlds of Tanguy. A lifelong naturalist, Tunnard forged an otherworldly realm where dream and science intermingle.
Label copy from exhibition "Dreamscapes: The Surrealist Impulse," August 22 - October 25, 1998
Primary Object ClassificationDrawingCollection AreaModern and ContemporaryRightsIf you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit
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Keywords
South Pole
Southern Cross
Surrealism
abstraction
aurora australis
automaton
mannequins (costume equipment)
modern and contemporary art
skeletons (animal components)