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The River

A work made of oil on canvas.

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  • A work made of oil on canvas.

Date:

1942

Artist:

O. Louis Guglielmi
American, born Egypt, 1906–1956

About this artwork

In The River, Louis Guglielmi depicted figures overlooking an expanse of shimmering water that contrasts with the industrial landscape on the far shore. The seven women and a child wear plain clothing typical of the working class on a day of leisure. Guglielmi focused on the struggles of everyday people amid the Great Depression and the rising threat of Fascism, frequently championing the laboring classes in his art. Painted during World War II, the composition attests to the daily monotony of a country at war: the men have been transported abroad, and women now exclusively inhabit the city.

Status

On View, Gallery 262

Department

Arts of the Americas

Artist

O. Louis Guglielmi

Title

The River

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.

1942

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

86.4 × 76.2 cm (34 × 30 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Society for Contemporary American Art

Reference Number

1945.6

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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