Inscription: Signed and dated (upper left): TOBEY / 1928
the sitter, Seattle, Kingston, Penn. and New York (1928–59; his gift to MMA)
Scranton, Penn. Everhart Museum. "An Exhibition of Painting and Sculpture from the Collection of George May of Kingston, Pennsylvania," October 6–December 1, 1957, no. 52 (as "Portrait of George May").
Hazleton, Penn. Hazleton Art League Galleries. "An Exhibition of Paintings from the Collection of George May, Kingston, Pennsylvania," September 29–October 12, 1958, no. 51 (as "Portrait of George May").
Binghamton, N. Y. Roberson Memorial Center. "An Exhibition of Paintings from the Collection of George May, Kingston, Pennsylvania," November–December 1958, no. 51.
New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "American Paintings, Drawings and Watercolors from the Museum's Collections," October 1–December 7, 1969, no catalogue.
New York Cultural Center. "Grand Reserves: An Exhibition of 235 Objects from the Reserves of Fifteen New York Museum and Public Collections," October 24–December 8, 1974, no. 133.
Jacksonville, Fla. Jacksonville Art Museum. "The Figure in 20th Century American Art: Selections from The Metropolitan Museum of Art," February 9–April 21, 1985, unnumbered cat. (p. 49).
Oklahoma City. Oklahoma Museum of Art. "The Figure in 20th Century American Art: Selections from The Metropolitan Museum of Art," May 5–June 30, 1985, unnumbered cat.
New York. National Academy of Design. "The Figure in 20th Century American Art: Selections from The Metropolitan Museum of Art," July 16–September 1, 1985, unnumbered cat.
Evanston, Ill. Terra Museum of American Art. "The Figure in 20th Century American Art: Selections from The Metropolitan Museum of Art," September 15–November 10, 1985, unnumbered cat.
Little Rock. Arkansas Arts Center. "The Figure in 20th Century American Art: Selections from The Metropolitan Museum of Art," November 12, 1985–January 19, 1986, unnumbered cat.
Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center. "The Figure in 20th Century American Art: Selections from The Metropolitan Museum of Art," February 9–March 30, 1986, unnumbered cat.
St. Paul. Minnesota Museum of Art. "The Figure in 20th Century American Art: Selections from The Metropolitan Museum of Art," April 20–June 8, 1986, unnumbered cat.
Robert L. Shalkop. An Exhibition of Painting and Sculpture from the Collection of George May of Kingston, Pennsylvania. Exh. cat., Everhart Museum. Scranton, Penn., 1957, p. 14, no. 52, ill. (cover), states that this picture was executed in the spring of 1928, when Tobey and May both lived in Seattle; notes that it has never been exhibited before.
Lowery Stokes Sims. The Figure in 20th Century American Art: Selections from The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Exh. cat., Jacksonville Art Museum. New York, 1984, pp. 42, 48–49, ill.
Michael Brenson. "Back in the City, a Display of the Figure in Modern Art." New York Times (August 2, 1985), p. C21.
The Met Collection API is where all makers, creators, researchers, and dreamers can now connect to the most up-to-date data and images for more than 470,000 artworks in The Met collection. As part of The Met’s Open Access program, the data is available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
Mark Tobey (American, Centerville, Wisconsin 1890–1976 Basel)
1957
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.
The Met's engagement with art from 1890 to today includes the acquisition and exhibition of works in a range of media, spanning movements in modernism to contemporary practices from across the globe.