About This Artwork
Ada I1971
Graphite with erasing on ivory wove paper
572 x 451 mm
Jalane and Richard Davidson Collection, 1996.764
Prints and Drawings
Not on Display
Alex Katz created many female portraits throughout his career. This graphite composition of his wife, Ada—who is shown frequently in Katz’s oeuvre—is the archetype for his later portrait drawings. Although many of his pencil sketches are studies for paintings, this drawing does not relate to any known painting. In this portrait, the pencil strokes and deep contrasts between light and dark illustrate the strong presence of the sitter, and subsequently Katz’s interest in human psychology and its complexity.