by Artist (743)
William Dawson
American, 1901–1990
Carved wooden totems are perhaps Dawson's most recognizable works. For him they were organic works that do not specifically reference Native American totem poles. Instead, these sculptures grew out of the existing knobby forms on found table and chair legs. The shapes served to guide Dawson as he carved heads atop one another, often resting the heads on a building or other architectural feature. The faces he carved and painted rarely represented a particular person, and in his totems these face become idealized. Although he depicts different races through various color pigments, Dawson renders the features of all of the faces in a similar stylized manner, perhaps trying to portray the universality of the human race.
American, 1901–1990
Four-headed Totem
about 1989
Object Type:
Sculpture
Creation Place:
North America, American, Illinois
Dimensions:
36 1/2 in. x 6 1/2 in. x 4 in. (92.71 cm x 16.51 cm x 10.16 cm)
Medium and Support:
Carved and painted wood
Accession Number:
2011.0020
Credit Line:
Gift of Micki Beth Stiller
Currently On View
Carved wooden totems are perhaps Dawson's most recognizable works. For him they were organic works that do not specifically reference Native American totem poles. Instead, these sculptures grew out of the existing knobby forms on found table and chair legs. The shapes served to guide Dawson as he carved heads atop one another, often resting the heads on a building or other architectural feature. The faces he carved and painted rarely represented a particular person, and in his totems these face become idealized. Although he depicts different races through various color pigments, Dawson renders the features of all of the faces in a similar stylized manner, perhaps trying to portray the universality of the human race.
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