Ada I

Art © Alex Katz / Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY

Prints and Drawings

1971

Alex Katz
American, born 1927

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.

Status: Currently Off View
Department: Prints and Drawings

Artist: Alex Katz
Title: Ada I
Place: United States (Artist's nationality:)
Date Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.: 1971
Medium: Graphite with erasing on ivory wove paper
Dimensions: 57.2 × 45.1 cm (22 9/16 × 17 13/16 in.)
Credit Line: Jalane and Richard Davidson Collection
Reference Number: 1996.764

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Date Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

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