Macumba

Currently not on view

Macumba

c. 1945

María Martins (Brazilian, 1894–1973) Printed by Atelier 17, New York

The alluring Surrealist artist María Martins was both an inspiration and advisor to her lover Marcel Duchamp (American (born France), 1887 - 1968), as he created his final work, Étant donnés (Philadelphia Museum of Art, 1969-41-1). For the duration of their affair, which lasted from about 1943 to 1950, Martins offered Duchamp instruction in casting techniques, which he used in the construction of the work's female mannequin, for which she served as the model. Martins's own work exhibits a keen interest in her rich native culture, particularly Amazonian deities and the myths and legends of the Brazilian rain forest. Compositions such as Macumba, titled after a Brazilian colloquialism for Afro-Brazilian witchcraft, are animated with a writhing, baroque exuberance that accentuates Martins's themes of fertility, desire, and sexual cruelty.

Currently not on view

Object Details

Titles:

Macumba

Date:

c. 1945

Artists:

María Martins (Brazilian, 1894–1973) Printed by Atelier 17, New York

Medium:

Color lithograph, printed in yellow and black inks

Dimensions:

Image: 13 9/16 x 17 1/2 inches (34.4 x 44.5 cm) Sheet: 19 11/16 x 25 7/8 inches (50 x 65.7 cm)

Classification:

Prints

Credit Line:

Gift of Francis M. Naumann in memory of Anne d'Harnoncourt, 2008

Accession Number:

2008-195-4

Geography:

Printed in New York, New York, United States, North and Central America

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Currently not on view