Mar 1, 2004
Mar 1, 2004
Mar 1, 2004
Mar 1, 2004

Gamin

Gamin

c. 1929

Augusta Savage

(American, 1892–1962)

Hand-painted plaster

Overall: 44.5 x 24.2 x 20.4 cm (17 1/2 x 9 1/2 x 8 1/16 in.)

Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 2003.40

Did you know?

A trailblazer, Savage was the first African American member of the National Association of Women Artists.

Description

Augusta Savage was the most acclaimed sculptor working during the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and ‘30s, and Gamin is her most famous work. It was long thought that the image was a generic figure; however, recent research reveals that it depicts her nephew. The warm characterization likely arises from the close bond shared between artist and model. Although several small versions of the sculpture were produced, this life-size, hand-painted plaster is unique, and likely the oldest surviving example of the subject.

Video

The Artist's Nephew
A Proud Portrait
The Artist, Augusta Savage
Why Does This Sculpture Have a French Title?
What is This Sculpture Made From?
See also

Contact us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email [email protected].

To request more information about this object, study images, or bibliography, contact the Ingalls Library Reference Desk.

All images and data available through Open Access can be downloaded for free. For images not available through Open Access, a detail image, or any image with a color bar, request a digital file from Image Services.