Painter and Model 1931

Arshile Gorky created this lithograph, called "Painter and Model", using crayon and ink, on lithographic stone. Abstract art like this reflects a shift in early 20th-century art away from traditional representation. Artists across Europe and America began experimenting with new ways of seeing, and this print embodies a questioning of the purpose and social role of art. Made in the United States, we can see the influence of European art movements such as Cubism and Surrealism, which encouraged artists to explore abstraction and the subconscious. But this artistic approach may also be seen in the context of a rapidly changing society, grappling with industrialization and war. To understand it better, we might turn to period publications, artists’ letters, and historical accounts that offer more context for interpreting Gorky's visual language. Art becomes a cultural artifact, reflecting a moment of social and institutional transformation.