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Lions on the Dreyfus Fund III

A work made of oil and paper on canvas.

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  • A work made of oil and paper on canvas.

Date:

1964

Artist:

Larry Rivers
American, 1923–2002

About this artwork

Trained as a jazz saxophonist, Larry Rivers discovered a parallel in and an innate talent for painting early on as well. Equally cerebral, sentimental, and provocative, he is considered a key proto-Pop artist—bridging the gap between the painterly gestures of Abstract Expressionism, dominant during the 1950s, and Pop Art’s pointed return to figuration during the 1960s. Rivers was at the height of his renown by 1964, having introduced found objects and imagery, including stencils and other forms of lettering, into his canvases. The composition of Lions on the Dreyfus Fund III is at once complex and diffuse: striding lions, jostling letters, floating tails, and muscular brushstrokes achieve a lateral push and pull. Through its title and its legible content this work refers to the Dreyfus Fund, a mutual fund broker that has featured lions prominently in its advertisements and corporate logo.

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Contemporary Art

Artist

Larry Rivers

Title

Lions on the Dreyfus Fund III

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.

1964

Medium

Oil and paper on canvas

Dimensions

105.4 × 199.3 cm (41 1/2 × 78 1/2 in.)

Credit Line

Mary and Leigh Block Fund for Acquisitions

Reference Number

1964.1062

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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