Salad Days

Date1984

Maker Eric Fischl American, born 1948

Label TextIn 1927 Mies van der Rohe built two adjacent private villas, known as Haus Lange and Haus Esters, in the German city of Krefeld. They are celebrated icons of the Bauhaus school’s new design, where Van der Rohe was a teacher. Fischl was invited to turn one of the buildings—which are museums today—into a theatrical stage. He selected furniture and artwork and hired two professional actors to enact intimate scenarios. Over four days, Fischl took some 2000 photographs and turned a handful of the resulting images into paintings.

Object number2014.25.18

Provenance[Mary Boone Gallery, New York, New York]; purchased from gallery by Virginia and Bagley Wright, Seattle, Washington, Apr. 4, 1985

Photo CreditPhoto: Nathaniel Willson

Published ReferencesBerman, Avis. “Artist’s Dialogue: Eric Fischl. Trouble in Paradise.” Architectural Digest (December, 1985): pp.72 - 79, reproduced p. 76. Fairbrother, Trevor. The Virginia and Bagley Wright Collection. Seattle: Seattle Art Museum in association with University of Washington Press, 1999; p. 200 [not in exhibition].

Credit LineGift of the Virginia and Bagley Wright Collection, in honor of the 75th Anniversary of the Seattle Art Museum

Dimensions84 x 168 in. (213.4 x 426.7 cm)

MediumOil on linen, two panels