Against the Sky

Description

Against the Sky

Robert Lewis Reid, 1911

Idealized images of young women, like this one, depicted optimistic representations of America. The confident female figure in Reid’s red, white, and blue painting appears as if on a pedestal. During the early 20th century, the ‘American Girl,’ was a symbol of the vibrant young nation. Specifically, the American Girl was tall, statuesque, healthy, and physically active.

Against the Sky was displayed in the Shaping America Exhibition.

What’s Going On?

The image is of a female figure standing in profile against a background of blue sky with white clouds. The perspective is such that the viewer appears to be looking up, seeing the figure from mid-thigh upwards.  Balanced against the left edge of the canvas with her left hand placed on her hip, her right arm hangs at her side. She is wearing a white dress with a red bow at the collar and red belt at the waist.

More About Reid

Robert Reid ranked among America’s most prominent Impressionist painters at the turn of the century. Known for his decorative portrayals of women in idyllic settings, the young woman in this painting asserts a presence beyond the ornamental. Confidently poised, she is a type rather than a portrait. In an age that defined beauty and culture as feminine, the tall, statuesque, active American girl came to symbolize the vibrant young nation. In this predominantly red, white, and blue painting, the woman almost appears to be standing on a pedestal. All in all it’s an optimistic celebration of the nation and its future.