Bridge and Tugboats

ClassificationsPaintings-watercolors

Artist Dong Kingman (American, 1911 - 2000)

Datemid 20th Century

Made AtNew York City, New York, United States, North America

Place DepictedNew York City, New York, United States, North America

MediumWatercolor on paper

DimensionsApproximately: 21 1/2 × 29 1/4 in. (54.6 × 74.3 cm)
Framed: 31 3/4 × 39 3/4 × 2 1/8 in. (80.6 × 101 × 5.4 cm)

Credit LineAnn and Bill Cullen Memorial Collection

Object number2018.6.11

DescriptionDong Kingman was a Chinese American artist who obtained education in calligraphy and watercolor painting. In the 1930s, Kingman served as an artist in the Works Progress Administration and painted over 300 works with the relief program. Kingman developed a watercolor style rather different from other California watercolorist since he had also received art instruction from traditional Chinese watercolorists. His early works featured loose washes with some dry brush calligraphy for definition. Kingman’s post war works became more complex in subject matter and usually had a geometric, abstractionist look as seen in this painting, Bridge and Tugboats. This piece is also a wonderful demonstration on the color palette and tone that Kingman usually focused on which are cooler colors. It should be also be noted that unlike many other watercolor Californian painters at the time, Kingman did not usually paint outside of his studio. Interestingly enough Kingman also waits to paint the sky until the end so that it is painted only to serve the rest of the work.

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