Then the Skull will be an Angel's Face

4 April 2014, gifted by the artist Jim Dine (Mount Vernon, NY) to the Chazen Museum of Art

• Chazen Museum of Art. "I Knew Him: Jim Dine Skulls 1982-2000." Madison: Chazen Museum of Art, 2016. pp. 88-89

• I Knew Him. Jim Dine Skulls, 1982-2000: Chazen Museum of Art, 5/16/2014–8/17/2014

This large-scale triptych painting presents three full-length figures—a skeleton, Pinocchio, and a self-portrait of the artist—each occupying its own panel. The left panel features a white and gray skeleton, rendered with loose, gestural brushstrokes against a blue and black backdrop. Long trails of white and red paint drip down the lower portion, partially obscuring the skeleton’s legs. The central panel depicts Pinocchio character, identifiable by his long nose and straight wooden legs. He wears red shorts with suspenders and black shoes, set against a neutral gray and beige background with drips of red paint descending from his shorts. The right panel is a self-portrait of the artist, recognized by his bald head, round, wire-rimmed glasses, and facial hair. Painted in tones of gray, he wears a long, white, robe-like garment tied at the waist with black string. A red background is visible in the upper half of this panel, with paint dripping down his face and left shoulder. Affixed to the chest of each figure is a large, three-dimensional wooden cross. These crosses, which protrude from the canvas, are constructed of layers of worn and tattered materials like scrap wood, frayed cloth, and metal staples, and are covered in paint splatters. The painting is textural with overlapping layers of paint and charcoal. The artist employed loose and expressive brushstrokes, with paint splattered onto the canvas, creating gestural lines of dripping paint. The overall effect is sketch-like, evoking an ethereal and haunting mood.

• North America
• Paintings
• Alt Text Accessible

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