Object Record
Images
Metadata
Artist |
Doogan, Bailey |
Title |
Five-Fingered Smile |
Date |
2010 |
Medium |
charcoal on primed paper |
Culture |
American |
School |
Tucson Artist |
Object ID |
2010.6.1 |
Collection |
Contemporary Art (1970-present) |
Object Name |
Drawing |
Credit line |
Purchased with Funds Provided by Robert J. Greenberg |
Didactic Information |
Professor Emeriti of Painting and Drawing at The University of Arizona, Bailey Doogan has been confronting the issues of female aging and beauty throughout her extensive career. In Five-Fingered Smile, the artist's wrinkled hand manipulates her face in an attempt to generate a smile from time-loosened skin. Her hand seems detached, working independently as she struggles with her image in the mirror. Yet, her dejected eyes present an indifferent attitude toward the entire process. She seems to have accepted the idea of growing old on one hand, while confronting the issue on the other hand. Doogan's intimately detailed, textural images speak to the broader definition of American culture's often hostile reaction to the idea of female aging and beauty. (Feb 2017) Professor Emeriti of Painting and Drawing at The University of Arizona, Tucsonan Bailey Doogan has been confronting the issues of female aging and beauty throughout her extensive 35-year career. In Five-fingered Smile, the artists aged hand manipulates her face in an attempt to generate a smile from time-loosened skin. Her hand seems detached from herself as subject, working independently as she struggles with her image in the mirror. Yet her dejected eyes present an indifferent attitude toward the entire process. She seems to have accepted the idea of aging and decline on one hand, while confronting the issue on the other hand. Doogan's intimately detailed, textural images speak to the broader definition of American culture's often hostile reaction to the idea of female aging and beauty. |