Artists Andy Warhol and George Klauber kick back in a New York City studio circa 1949. <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.papress.com%2Fhtml%2Fbook.details.page.tpl%3Fisbn%3D9781616892951" target="_blank" target="_blank">"Artists Unframed"</a> author Merry A. Foresta plumbed the Smithsonian's Archives of American Art for candid images that show revered modern artists like we're not used to seeing them. Whether they're creating, clowning around with friends or just surrounded by loving family, these artists' private lives are bared for the camera.
Artists Andy Warhol and George Klauber kick back in a New York City studio circa 1949. "Artists Unframed" author Merry A. Foresta plumbed the Smithsonian's Archives of American Art for candid images that show revered modern artists like we're not used to seeing them. Whether they're creating, clowning around with friends or just surrounded by loving family, these artists' private lives are bared for the camera.
Archives of American Art/Princeton Architectural Press
Abstract artist Jackson Pollock adorns one of his famous giant canvases in his studio in 1950. The kinetic shot captures the athleticism of Pollock's painting style. The black-and-white film does not allow a look at his color scheme, however.
Abstract artist Jackson Pollock adorns one of his famous giant canvases in his studio in 1950. The kinetic shot captures the athleticism of Pollock's painting style. The black-and-white film does not allow a look at his color scheme, however.
Hans Namuth Estate/Pollock-Krasner Foundation/Princeton Architectural Press
Grant Wood founded the Stone City Art Colony near Cedar Rapids, Iowa, along with Edward Rowan and Adrian Dornbush in 1932. Artists living at the colony were housed in wooden icehouse wagons. Here, Wood decorates one of the mobile rooms circa 1933.
Grant Wood founded the Stone City Art Colony near Cedar Rapids, Iowa, along with Edward Rowan and Adrian Dornbush in 1932. Artists living at the colony were housed in wooden icehouse wagons. Here, Wood decorates one of the mobile rooms circa 1933.
Archives of American Art/Princeton Architectural Press
Una Hanbury redefines business casual as she wears a bathing suit while sculpting a bust of fellow artist Georgia O'Keeffe in 1967. Both Hanbury and O'Keeffe maintained art studios in New Mexico. The cast bronze bust is now on display in the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery.
Una Hanbury redefines business casual as she wears a bathing suit while sculpting a bust of fellow artist Georgia O'Keeffe in 1967. Both Hanbury and O'Keeffe maintained art studios in New Mexico. The cast bronze bust is now on display in the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery.
Archives of American Art/Princeton Architectural Press
Painter, illustrator and printmaker Rockwell Kent stands on his head circa 1935. Kent was known for painting stark landscapes. He spent time in Alaska and wrote several books about his art and travels.
Painter, illustrator and printmaker Rockwell Kent stands on his head circa 1935. Kent was known for painting stark landscapes. He spent time in Alaska and wrote several books about his art and travels.
Archives of American Art/Princeton Architectural Press
Dorothy Dehner and David Smith are shown here circa 1928, the year they were married. Each was educated at the Art Students League of New York. Dehner told the Archives of American Art about Smith: "He was terribly interested and very vital, and I remember, as a reaction from his spats-and-derby kind of dressing, he would go home and get in to a pair of old slacks and some things he called romeos -- they were great, flapping bedroom slippers with rubber sides, you know. And he would wear those to the (Art Students) League, and this made him distinctive. ... He was terribly cute and very, very tall and skinny and quite a personality in the group there."
Dorothy Dehner and David Smith are shown here circa 1928, the year they were married. Each was educated at the Art Students League of New York. Dehner told the Archives of American Art about Smith: "He was terribly interested and very vital, and I remember, as a reaction from his spats-and-derby kind of dressing, he would go home and get in to a pair of old slacks and some things he called romeos -- they were great, flapping bedroom slippers with rubber sides, you know. And he would wear those to the (Art Students) League, and this made him distinctive. ... He was terribly cute and very, very tall and skinny and quite a personality in the group there."
Archives of American Art/Princeton Architectural Press
This photo of Diego Rivera and <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2015%2F07%2F02%2Fliving%2Fgallery%2Ftbt-frida-kahlo%2Findex.html" target="_blank">Frida Kahlo</a> was snapped at her family's home in Coyoacan, Mexico, in the early 1940s. The couple had just gotten remarried -- their stormy relationship would become the stuff of legends. Kahlo was often bedridden due to health problems and surgeries resulting from an accident she suffered as a young woman.
This photo of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo was snapped at her family's home in Coyoacan, Mexico, in the early 1940s. The couple had just gotten remarried -- their stormy relationship would become the stuff of legends. Kahlo was often bedridden due to health problems and surgeries resulting from an accident she suffered as a young woman.
Archives of American Art/Princeton Architectural Press
Pablo Picasso holds a fluffy puppy while posing for a snapshot with his daughter Maya circa 1944. The photo was likely taken in Paris, where Picasso lived during World War II. Maya would have been about 9.
Pablo Picasso holds a fluffy puppy while posing for a snapshot with his daughter Maya circa 1944. The photo was likely taken in Paris, where Picasso lived during World War II. Maya would have been about 9.
Archives of American Art/Princeton Architectural Press
Artist Philip Pearlstein took this photo of Andy Warhol crossing the street in New York City circa 1949. It was snapped just after the two had graduated from the Carnegie Institute of Technology, before Warhol became famous.
Artist Philip Pearlstein took this photo of Andy Warhol crossing the street in New York City circa 1949. It was snapped just after the two had graduated from the Carnegie Institute of Technology, before Warhol became famous.
Archives of American Art/Princeton Architectural Press
Here's a more recognizable Warhol palling around with Yoko Ono and John Lennon in June 1971. Ono was an avant-garde artist as well. "Is this a demonstration of pop music embracing pop art?" Foresta asks.
Here's a more recognizable Warhol palling around with Yoko Ono and John Lennon in June 1971. Ono was an avant-garde artist as well. "Is this a demonstration of pop music embracing pop art?" Foresta asks.
Archives of American Art/Princeton Architectural Press
Alexander Calder, famous for his abstract paintings and mobiles, wrangles toy bulls on a rooftop in Paris in 1927. Calder lived in Paris between 1926 and 1933. "During these years the young American created one of the most beloved works of modern art, a miniature circus that included more than seventy small acrobats, tightrope walkers, and performing animals," Foresta wrote.
Alexander Calder, famous for his abstract paintings and mobiles, wrangles toy bulls on a rooftop in Paris in 1927. Calder lived in Paris between 1926 and 1933. "During these years the young American created one of the most beloved works of modern art, a miniature circus that included more than seventy small acrobats, tightrope walkers, and performing animals," Foresta wrote.
Archives of American Art/Princeton Architectural Press
Gertrude Abercrombie kisses an unidentified individual in this photo-booth snap circa 1945. Abercrombie, who was dubbed "the queen of the bohemian artists," painted from a studio in Chicago. She often produced self-portraits in a surrealist style.
Gertrude Abercrombie kisses an unidentified individual in this photo-booth snap circa 1945. Abercrombie, who was dubbed "the queen of the bohemian artists," painted from a studio in Chicago. She often produced self-portraits in a surrealist style.
Archives of American Art/Princeton Architectural Press
This mystery man is landscape photographer extraordinaire Ansel Adams. The 1936 picture appears to have been taken in a photo booth as opposed to the great outdoors -- Adams is revered for his black-and-white photographs of nature in the Western United States.
This mystery man is landscape photographer extraordinaire Ansel Adams. The 1936 picture appears to have been taken in a photo booth as opposed to the great outdoors -- Adams is revered for his black-and-white photographs of nature in the Western United States.
Archives of American Art/Princeton Architectural Press