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A Measure of Dreams

ca. 1908
Not on view
In 1908 the art critic James Gibbons Huneker described this picture as follows: “One woman of noble contour walks as in a dream through a delicious landscape. She has come from a dream and is crossing the bridge of transition; soon she shall be enveloped in the splendors and terrors of a new dream.” Inspired by his study of psychology and by Symbolist works such as those of Odilon Redon, Davies had a keen interest in dreams and believed that sleep could liberate the imagination. On waking, he sometimes recorded his own dreams in notes and sketches that he hung in his studio and later developed into paintings.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: A Measure of Dreams
  • Artist: Arthur B. Davies (American, Utica, New York 1862–1928 Florence)
  • Date: ca. 1908
  • Culture: American
  • Medium: Oil on canvas
  • Dimensions: 18 x 30 in. (45.7 x 76.2 cm)
  • Credit Line: Gift of George A. Hearn, 1909
  • Object Number: 09.72.4
  • Curatorial Department: The American Wing

More Artwork

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Reclining Woman, Arthur B. Davies American, Pastel on gray Japanese paper, American
Reclining Woman
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Gray and Brass, John Sloan American, Oil on canvas, American
Gray and Brass
John Sloan
1907
Still Life—Violin and Music, William Michael Harnett American, Oil on canvas, American
Still Life—Violin and Music
William Michael Harnett
1888
Design for an Overdoor Painting and Two Wall Panels, Arthur B. Davies American, Black and white crayon, gouache
Design for an Overdoor Painting and Two Wall Panels
Arthur B. Davies
ca. 1900–1910
Necklace, Meta Overbeck American, Gold, emeralds, Montana sapphires, topazes, enamel, American
Necklace
Meta Overbeck
Louis C. Tiffany
Manufacturer Tiffany & Co.
ca. 1914–15

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