Student Artwork Guide

Name Class Date

Elizabeth Olds, Fire (1940). Reproduced for reference; rights reserved by the rights holder. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist: Elizabeth Olds wahooart.com/en/artists/elizabeth-olds/
Artist’s dates: 1896 – 1991
Painted: 1940
Original size: 31 x 44 cm

Copyright This work is still under copyright. Elizabeth Olds died in 1991; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it remains in force until 2061. The image is shown here for classroom reference; rights remain with the rights holder.

Fire — Elizabeth Olds

How big is it?

The original measures 31 × 44 cm (height × width), drawn here beside an adult of average height.

When was this painted?

late works

1890
1900
1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990

03
413
1423
2433
3443
4453
5463
6473
7483
8493
9495

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 95 at death.

Painted when the artist was 44. The artist lived to 95. 25 of the 55 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.

Shaded: the lifetime of Elizabeth Olds (1896–1991) ▲ this work, 1940 every dated painting, decade by decade

First works: up to 1936 Main working years: 1936–1954 Late works: from 1954

Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them

Compare with

Untitled, 1941 wahooart.com/en/art/elizabeth-olds-untitled-AQRLTP-en/
From the Top Balcony, 1940 wahooart.com/en/art/elizabeth-olds-from-the-top-balcony-AQRLU3-en/
Sheep Skinners, from the Stockyard Series, 1934 wahooart.com/en/art/elizabeth-olds-sheep-skinners-from-the-stockyard-series-AQRLU7-en/

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: wahooart.com/en/art/similar/elizabeth-olds-fire-AQRLTM-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

Main colour

Rosy Brown #b89f85

Catalogued palette

#B89F85
#362925
#625756
#8B766B

These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

Palette: Earthy The dominant colour family in the image.
Main colour name: Rosy Brown
Intensity: Balanced How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
Contrast: Balanced How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
Harmony: Balanced Harmony How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
Brightness: Balanced How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
Saturation: Subtle Color How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

Where in the world is this painting looked at?

under 1%
1–3%
3–8%
8–20%
20% and over

This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by Elizabeth Olds over the last twelve months — 2 countries in all. Where these figures come from

The ten leading countries

1 China 78.6%1,100 visits
2 United States of America 21.4%300 visits

Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

The 15 most looked-at works by Elizabeth Olds

1 The Middle Class, 1939 16.7%300 visits
2 Harlem Musicians, 1937 11.1%200 visits
3 Picasso Study Club, 1940 11.1%200 visits
4 From the Top Balcony, 1940 5.6%100 visits
5 Miners, 1937 5.6%100 visits
6 Steel Mills, 1938 5.6%100 visits
7 The Lone Ranger, 1942 5.6%100 visits
8 Silkscreen for Children, 1955 5.6%100 visits
9 Untitled, 1941 5.6%100 visits
10 Plovers, 1950 5.6%100 visits
11 Scrap Iron, 1940 5.6%100 visits
12 Three Young Birds, 1968 5.6%100 visits
13 Miracle at Paricutan Verso Sketch 5.6%100 visits
14 Burlesque, 1945 5.6%100 visits
— Fire, 1940 this painting 0.0%0 visits

Together these works take 100.0% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 57 works by this artist, of which 14 were looked at at least once. This painting has not been looked at yet in that time — it closes the list without a rank. The same counts, month by month

Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

Fire — Elizabeth Olds

The painting Fire by Elizabeth Olds is a striking representation of a city in turmoil, with firefighters working tirelessly to put out a raging fire. Created in 1940, this black and white depiction is a testament to the artist's skill in capturing the intensity of the scene. The painting is part of the collection at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in the United States.

The Artist's Style and Technique

Elizabeth Olds was a renowned American printmaker, known for her work in developing silkscreen as a fine arts medium. Her style is characterized by bold lines and vivid imagery, which is evident in Fire. The use of black and white adds to the dramatic effect of the painting, highlighting the chaos and urgency of the situation. Key Features of the Painting:

The prominent fire truck on the left side of the painting, with another smaller one in the background

The group of people working together to put out the fire, showcasing a sense of community and cooperation

The focus on the firefighters' determined expressions, conveying their dedication to their work

Reproductions and Prints

For art enthusiasts who appreciate the work of Elizabeth Olds, https://AllPaintingsStore.com offers handmade oil painting reproductions of Fire. These reproductions are created using high-quality materials and techniques, ensuring that they capture the essence of the original painting. Visit /art/list/?Filter=AQRLTM-Elizabeth-Olds-Fire to explore more about this artwork and discover other pieces by Elizabeth Olds, such as Western Sunset. Learn More About the Artist: For those interested in learning more about Elizabeth Olds and her work, Wikipedia provides a comprehensive overview of her life and career: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Olds.

The painting Fire by Elizabeth Olds is a powerful representation of courage and determination in the face of adversity, making it a significant piece in the world of art.

Artist

Elizabeth Olds

Born in Minneapolis, United States of America

Elizabeth Olds: A Pioneer of Silkscreen and Social Realism

Born: Minneapolis, United States of America (1896)

Died: 1991

Elizabeth Olds was a significant American artist recognized for her innovative use of silkscreen as a fine art medium. While also proficient in painting and illustration, she is primarily celebrated as a printmaker, mastering techniques like silkscreen, woodcut, and lithography. Her career spanned several decades, marked by artistic experimentation, social engagement, and contributions to the development of modern printmaking.

Early Life and Artistic Development

Family Background: Born into a middle-class family in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Olds was exposed to art early on through her mother, an art historian, who frequently visited the Walker Art Center and Minneapolis Institute of Arts.

Education: She studied home economics and architectural drawing at the University of Minnesota (1916-1918) before receiving scholarships to the Minneapolis College of Art and Design (1918-1921) and later, the Art Students League of New York (1921).

Influence of George Luks: At the Art Students League, she studied under George Luks, a prominent figure in the Ashcan School. This mentorship significantly shaped her early style, leading to explorations of urban life and immigrant communities alongside Luks in New York's Lower East Side.

European Travels & Circus Experience: From 1923-1925, she spent summers with influential artistic circles in Clinton, New York. In 1925, funded by Elihu Root and bankers, Olds traveled to France where she observed and sketched the Fratellini family's circus troupe, eventually joining them as a trick bareback rider.

Major Achievements and Artistic Evolution

Guggenheim Fellowship (1926): A landmark achievement, Olds became the first woman to receive a Guggenheim Fellowship, enabling further European travel and artistic exploration.

Social Realism & The Great Depression: Inspired by José Clemente Orozco’s murals at Dartmouth College, Olds shifted towards social realism during the Great Depression. Her time in Omaha, Nebraska, painting portraits for the Samuel Rees family led to a frustration with portraiture but also an introduction to lithography at Rees' printing business.

Public Works of Art Project (PWAP) & Federal Art Project (FAP): From 1933-1934, Olds participated in the PWAP in Omaha, creating powerful lithographs depicting bread lines, shelters, and clinics—a stark portrayal of the Depression's impact. Her work during this period demonstrated a move towards broader expressive lines and political themes.

"Stockyard Series": Studying at a meat packing plant inspired her "Stockyard Series," culminating in “Sheep Skinners,” which gained recognition as one of the “Fifty Best Prints of the Year” in 1935.

Silkscreen Innovation: As a nonrelief employee for the WPA-FAP, Olds played a crucial role in developing silkscreen printing as a fine art medium alongside Harry Gottlieb and other artists. They even established an independent Silk Screen School from 1939 to 1941.

"Miner Joe": Her collaboration with Harry Gottlieb on observing mining and steel industries resulted in the award-winning print "Miner Joe," which won first place at the Philadelphia Print Club competition in 1938.

Later Career and Legacy

Children's Books: In her later career, Olds demonstrated versatility by writing and illustrating six children’s books.

Political Engagement: Olds was actively involved in leftist political groups like the American Artists’ Congress and Artists Union, reflecting her social awareness and commitment to democratic art accessible to all.

Historical Significance: Elizabeth Olds's pioneering work with silkscreen significantly expanded its possibilities as a fine art medium. Her socially conscious prints during the Great Depression offer a poignant record of the era and cemented her place as an important figure in American Social Realism. She remains recognized for her artistic innovation, social engagement, and contribution to the development of modern printmaking techniques.

Where to read more

The artist Elizabeth Olds wahooart.com/en/artists/elizabeth-olds/
Similar works More works to compare wahooart.com/en/art/similar/elizabeth-olds-fire-AQRLTM-en/

Find this online

QR code linking to the download page for Fire

wahooart.com/en/art/download/elizabeth-olds-fire-AQRLTM-en/

Cite this artwork

MLA: Olds, Elizabeth. Fire. 1940, https://wahooart.com/en/art/elizabeth-olds-fire-AQRLTM-en/
APA: Olds, Elizabeth (1940). Fire [Painting]. https://wahooart.com/en/art/elizabeth-olds-fire-AQRLTM-en/
Chicago: Elizabeth Olds. Fire. 1940. https://wahooart.com/en/art/elizabeth-olds-fire-AQRLTM-en/
Harvard: Olds, Elizabeth (1940) Fire. Available at: https://wahooart.com/en/art/elizabeth-olds-fire-AQRLTM-en/

Fire — Elizabeth Olds

Look closely

Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

What catches your eye first, and why?
Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
Look back at Untitled (1941), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
Elizabeth Olds was about 44 when this was made. What in it looks like the work of an artist at that stage?
What might the artist have wanted you to feel?

Your response

Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

Questions & Answers

What is the perceived brightness of "Fire" by Elizabeth Olds?

The perceived brightness of "Fire" by Elizabeth Olds is balanced. It can be matched to the light of the intended space.

Does "Fire" by Elizabeth Olds use strong contrasts or soft harmonies?

In "Fire", a balanced contrast is paired with a balanced harmony harmony.

What saturation and intensity does "Fire" by Elizabeth Olds show?

"Fire" by Elizabeth Olds is recorded with a subtle color saturation and a balanced intensity.