The Old Paratrooper
1950
Mark Tobey
born Centerville, Wisconsin, 1890; died Basel, Switzerland, 1976
Best known for his abstract paintings, Tobey made figurative works throughout his career, including a group of realist watercolors of workers and visitors at Seattle's Pike Market. Here he combines his abstract and figurative tendencies. Uniting the man with the bundle on his back, Tobey fills the silhouette with calligraphic designs. The fantastical image of the aged parachuter embodies cosmic energy and expansiveness.
Ink and watercolor on paper
23 7/8 x 17 5/8 in. (60.6 x 44.8 cm), sheet size
Gift in memory of Eunice P. Clise from her children
92.155