Catch as Catch Can

Gallery 272, Modern and Contemporary Art, second floor (Alchin/Marryatt Gallery)

Main Building

Catch as Catch Can

1913

Francis Picabia (French, 1879–1953)

In this painting, Picabia combined the memory of a no-holds-barred wrestling match (known as "catch-as-catch-can") with the motions of a Polish dancer he saw rehearsing aboard an ocean liner. The inscription "Edtaonisl 1913" mixes up the letters of the French words étoil(e) [star] and dans(e) [dance] to describe this celebrated performer.

Gallery 272, Modern and Contemporary Art, second floor (Alchin/Marryatt Gallery)

Object Details

Title:

Catch as Catch Can

Date:

1913

Artist:

Francis Picabia (French, 1879–1953)

Medium:

Oil on canvas

Dimensions:

41 1/2 x 34 x 1 3/4 inches (105.4 x 86.4 x 4.4 cm) Framed: 41 1/2 x 34 x 2 inches (105.4 x 86.4 x 5.1 cm)

Classification:

Paintings

Credit Line:

The Louise and Walter Arensberg Collection, 1950

Accession Number:

1950-134-156

Geography:

Made in France, Europe

Provenance

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Gallery 272, Modern and Contemporary Art, second floor (Alchin/Marryatt Gallery)

Main Building

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