Label Text
This painting was commissioned by the Cowles in 1949, while Kokoschka was staying in their home in Minneapolis
Oskar Kokoschka was born in 1886 in the Austrian village of Pochlarn on the Danube between Linz and Vienna. He studied art in the Austrian capital and exhibited his work there publically for the first time in 1908. His works caused a public furore, the first of many in Vienna. After suffering serious wounds in World War I, he embarked on a career of teaching and travels which took him throughout Europe, the Middle East, and North America. He lived in Switzerland for many years.
Source: Bulletin, July-August 1973.
Exhibition History"Commitment, Community and Controversy: The Des Moines Art Center Collections," Des Moines Art Center, Jan. 24 - May 10, 1998
"From Body to Being: Reflections on the Human Image," Des Moines Art Center, Feb. 1 - May 4, 1997
"Selected Cowles Family Gifts to the Permanent Collection," Des Moines Art Center, July 30 - Sept. 11, 1994
"Kokoschka Retrospective," College of Saint Benedict, St. John's University, Collegeville, MN, Sept. 21 - Nov. 2, 1991
"Highlights From Three Collections: The Bohen, Coffin and Cowles Collections," Des Moines Art Center, July 8 - Sept. 11, 1983
"Homage to Kokoschka," University Gallery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Oct. 2 - Nov. 18, 1979
"Art in Western Europe: The Postwar Years 1945-1955," Des Moines Art Center, Sept. 19 - Oct. 29, 1978
"Kokoschka," Marlborough-Gerson Gallery, N.Y., Oct. - Nov. 1966
"Retrospective Exhibition of Oskar Kokoschka," organized by the Arts Council of Great Britain, exhibited at the Tate Gallery, London, Sept. 14 - Nov. 11, 1962
"Oskar Kokoschka," Kunstlerhaus, Vienna, May 19 - July 13, 1958, (circulated to: Haud der Kunst, Munich, Mar. 13-May 11, 1958; Gemeente Museum, the Hague, July 31 - Sept. 30, 1958)
"The Archaic Smile," Birmingham Museum of Art, AL, Jan. 15 - Feb. 10, 1956
"Paintings by Oskar Kokoschka," Santa Barbara Museum of Art, CA, Feb. 9 - Mar. 7, 1954, (circulated to: California Palace of the Legion of Honor, San Francisco, Mar. 20 - Apr. 30, 1954)
Published References"Paintings by Oskar Kokoshka," Santa Barbara Museum of Art, 1954, exh. cat. no.21
Hans Maria Wingler, O KOKOSCHKA, THE WORKS OF THE PAINTER Verlag Galerie, Welz, Salzburg, Austria, 1958, no.361, ill. pl. no.113, p.332
"Oskar Kokoschka," Kunstlerhaus, Vienna, 1958, exh. cat. no.135, ill. p.87
"The Archaic Smile," Birmingham Museum of Art, AL, 1956, exh. cat. no.53
"Retrospective Exhibition of Oskar Kokoschka," Arts Council of Great Britain, 1962, exh. cat. no.136
Des Moines Register, Sept. 25, 1963, ill.
DMAC Bulletin, Oct. 1963, ill.
"Kokoschka," Marlborough-Gerson Gallery, N. Y., 1966, exh. cat. no.52, ill. p.72
DMAC Bulletin, July/Aug. 1973, cover ill.
"Art In Western Europe: The Postwar Years 1945 - 1955," Des Moines Art Center, 1978, exh. cat. no.27, color ill.
DES MOINES ART CENTER: SELECTED PAINTINGS, SCULPTURES AND WORKS ON PAPER, Des Moines Art Center, 1985, ref. pp.129 & 130, b/w ill. pl.70, p.130
"Letters from John Cowles to his Family, 1943-1976; 1944", edited by Elizabeth Ballantine, Durango Herald Press, cover image
"Oskar Kokoschka: Expressionist, Migrant, European," 2018, p.213, fig.2
Exhibition History"Commitment, Community and Controversy: The Des Moines Art Center Collections," Des Moines Art Center, Jan. 24 - May 10, 1998
"From Body to Being: Reflections on the Human Image," Des Moines Art Center, Feb. 1 - May 4, 1997
"Selected Cowles Family Gifts to the Permanent Collection," Des Moines Art Center, July 30 - Sept. 11, 1994
"Kokoschka Retrospective," College of Saint Benedict, St. John's University, Collegeville, MN, Sept. 21 - Nov. 2, 1991
"Highlights From Three Collections: The Bohen, Coffin and Cowles Collections," Des Moines Art Center, July 8 - Sept. 11, 1983
"Homage to Kokoschka," University Gallery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Oct. 2 - Nov. 18, 1979
"Art in Western Europe: The Postwar Years 1945-1955," Des Moines Art Center, Sept. 19 - Oct. 29, 1978
"Kokoschka," Marlborough-Gerson Gallery, N.Y., Oct. - Nov. 1966
"Retrospective Exhibition of Oskar Kokoschka," organized by the Arts Council of Great Britain, exhibited at the Tate Gallery, London, Sept. 14 - Nov. 11, 1962
"Oskar Kokoschka," Kunstlerhaus, Vienna, May 19 - July 13, 1958, (circulated to: Haud der Kunst, Munich, Mar. 13-May 11, 1958; Gemeente Museum, the Hague, July 31 - Sept. 30, 1958)
"The Archaic Smile," Birmingham Museum of Art, AL, Jan. 15 - Feb. 10, 1956
"Paintings by Oskar Kokoschka," Santa Barbara Museum of Art, CA, Feb. 9 - Mar. 7, 1954, (circulated to: California Palace of the Legion of Honor, San Francisco, Mar. 20 - Apr. 30, 1954)
Published References"Paintings by Oskar Kokoshka," Santa Barbara Museum of Art, 1954, exh. cat. no.21
Hans Maria Wingler, O KOKOSCHKA, THE WORKS OF THE PAINTER Verlag Galerie, Welz, Salzburg, Austria, 1958, no.361, ill. pl. no.113, p.332
"Oskar Kokoschka," Kunstlerhaus, Vienna, 1958, exh. cat. no.135, ill. p.87
"The Archaic Smile," Birmingham Museum of Art, AL, 1956, exh. cat. no.53
"Retrospective Exhibition of Oskar Kokoschka," Arts Council of Great Britain, 1962, exh. cat. no.136
Des Moines Register, Sept. 25, 1963, ill.
DMAC Bulletin, Oct. 1963, ill.
"Kokoschka," Marlborough-Gerson Gallery, N. Y., 1966, exh. cat. no.52, ill. p.72
DMAC Bulletin, July/Aug. 1973, cover ill.
"Art In Western Europe: The Postwar Years 1945 - 1955," Des Moines Art Center, 1978, exh. cat. no.27, color ill.
DES MOINES ART CENTER: SELECTED PAINTINGS, SCULPTURES AND WORKS ON PAPER, Des Moines Art Center, 1985, ref. pp.129 & 130, b/w ill. pl.70, p.130
"Letters from John Cowles to his Family, 1943-1976; 1944", edited by Elizabeth Ballantine, Durango Herald Press, cover image
"Oskar Kokoschka: Expressionist, Migrant, European," 2018, p.213, fig.2
DimensionsOverall: 44 3/4 × 60 in. (113.7 × 152.4 cm)
Accession Number 1963.3
Classificationspainting
CopyrightARS
SignedO.K. (l,l oil paint)
InscriptionsMy friends
Betty and John Cowles 1949
Minneapolis OK (verso u,r on canvas)
Provenance(Buchholz Gallery, New York); John and Elizabeth Bates Cowles, Minneapolis [commissioned from the artist, 1949]; Des Moines Art Center [gift of the previous, 1963]
