Accession Number
2009/1.545

Title
Feeding Grounds

Artist(s)
Mark Tobey

Artist Nationality
American (North American)

Object Creation Date
1954

Medium & Support
tempera on paper

Dimensions
24 1/4 in x 18 3/16 in x 1 3/8 in (61.6 cm x 46.2 cm x 3.49 cm);17 3/4 in x 11 3/4 in (45.09 cm x 29.85 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Evan Maurer in honor of Helmut F. Stern

Subject matter
In 1923, while living in Seattle, WA, Mark Tobey met the Chinese painter Deng Kui, who taught him techniques of Chinese calligraphy. In 1934 he traveled to China and Japan. Improvising with calligraphy the following year, Tobey originated the distinctive "white writing" that marked his maturity as an artist. This painting is an example of this calligraphic, overall style.

Physical Description
This is a vertical, rectangular, abstract painting of white ground with shapes that resemble letters floating in tones of gold, brown, gray, and black. 

Primary Object Classification
Painting

Collection Area
Modern and Contemporary

Rights
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Keywords
Bahaism
brush strokes
calligraphic drawings