GIRL IN WHITE

DateJanuary 1-May 3, 1968

Artist/Maker Eddie Arning (1898 - 1993)

MediumWax cayon on laid green paper

DimensionsUnframed: 22 x 16 3/16in. (55.9 x 41.1cm) Framed: 30 1/4 x 23 3/4 x 3/4in. (76.8 x 60.3 x 1.9cm)

Credit LineGift of Dr. & Mrs. Alexander Sackton

Object number1986.201.1

DescriptionA half-length figure dressed in white faces full front, holds a conical shape of foliage/flowers in front of body, wears a hat with up-turned brim, has down-turned mouth and large dark staring eyes; script inscription appears over lower edge of clothing; the whole on a dark blue overall background with dark blue and dark green outer borders. The figure's face is bright pink and outlined in darker pink or red.
Label TextArning has resided in mental institutions or nursing homes for most of his adult life. He began drawing in 1964, at age sixty-six, under the encouragement of an aide in one of the homes, Helen Mayfield. Following the common practice of much of his later artistic career, Arning's GIRL IN WHITE WITH FLOWERS was inspired by a magazine illustration, in this case an advertisement for "Bright Eyes Phlox" run by Northrup King Seeds.

Except for the magazine picture, which shows a small girl holding a nosegay in front of her face, one would have difficulty determining the sex and age of Arning's imposing figure. At the suggestion of friends, Arning began signing his drawings in script on their front surfaces as you see here. However, he soon abandoned this practice--perhaps finding that it interfered with his compositions--and, instead, resorted to pencil signatures on the reverses of the pieces.
InscribedIn crayon in script in the lower center of the composition is "artis work by EA 1968." In pencil in script on the reverse is "Eddie Arning." In the lower right corner on the reverse is the Sackton inventory number "868" in black ink.
ProvenanceThe drawing was acquired directly from the artist by Dr. and Mrs. Alexander H. Sackton of Austin, Texas; in turn, the Sacktons donated the work to the Folk Art Center.