Created by
Lovell, Whitfield, American, born 1959
Date
2006-2011
Medium
mixed media : charcoal on paper , ink on cardboard
Dimensions
H x W: 12 x 9 in. (30.5 x 22.9 cm)
Caption
"The importance of home, family, and ancestry feeds my work entirely." - Whitfield Lovell
Each of Whitfield Lovell’s charcoal drawings of unidentified individuals draws the viewer into an intimate world. The child of a mother born in the South and a father of West Indian background, he has drawn on both their traditions—the ability of black southerners to make something out of nothing, and the pride of West Indians who grew up where black families constituted the norm. Starting with found photographs, he lovingly captures their likenesses.
Lovell has often combined his portraits with found objects. In this series, each of his 54 keenly rendered charcoal portraits—both probing and elegant--is paired with one of 54 round playing cards (a deck of 52 plus two jokers).
Description
A charcoal pencil drawing from Whitfield Lovell's Round Series. A portrait of an African American man wearing a wide-brimmed hat and a moustache. Beneath, the five of spades.
Portfolio/Series
The Card Series II: The Rounds
Classification
Visual Arts
Type
drawings
portraits
Topic
Art
Families
Identity
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Object number
2011.70.19
Restrictions & Rights
© Whitfield Lovell, Courtesy of DC Moore Gallery, New York
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd521b00a20-f381-490b-b257-d4b1867115ca

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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