Elsie Driggs
Encyclopedia
Elsie Driggs was an American painter
mostly known for her contributions to the Precisionism
movement of the 1920s, as well as her floral and figurative paintings in watercolor, pastels, and oils later on in her career. Her works are in the collections of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
, the Whitney Museum of American Art
(New York), the James A. Michener Art Museum
(Pennsylvania), and the Columbus Museum of Art
(Ohio), among others.
and in Italy (where Futurism
influenced her) and eventually found herself in New York City where she became successful in the 1920s. In New York, she began to paint "the modern landscape of factories, bridges, and skyscrapers with geometric precision and almost abstract spareness." http://www.michenermuseum.org/bucksartists/artist.php?artist=67 However, it was in 1926 when she painted her most famous work, Pittsburgh, which is a painting of smokestacks of a Pittsburgh steel
factory. The painting has a black tone to it and depicts the murky and polluted atmosphere of Pittsburgh industrial life in what Driggs felt had an ironic beauty and intrigue. One year later, she painted another acclaimed work entitled Queensborough Bridge. In the 1930s, Driggs left her Precisionist works for more "whimsical watercolors and figurative paintings as well as murals for the WPA
"http://www.michenermuseum.org/bucksartists/artist.php?artist=67 Driggs married painter Lee Gatch
and eventually found herself in Lambertville, New Jersey
, dedicating her efforts to Gatch's career. In the 1960s, Driggs experimented with mixed media constructions and figurative paintings in pastels and oils. Until her death, Driggs was considered the most underrated and long-lived of the Precisionist painters.
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
mostly known for her contributions to the Precisionism
Precisionism
Precisionism, also known as Cubist Realism, was an artistic movement that emerged in the United States after World War I and was at its height during the inter-War period...
movement of the 1920s, as well as her floral and figurative paintings in watercolor, pastels, and oils later on in her career. Her works are in the collections of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, comprising the M. H. de Young Memorial Museum in Golden Gate Park and the California Palace of the Legion of Honor in Lincoln Park, is the largest public arts institution in the city of San Francisco and one of the largest art museums in California.-External...
, the Whitney Museum of American Art
Whitney Museum of American Art
The Whitney Museum of American Art, often referred to simply as "the Whitney", is an art museum with a focus on 20th- and 21st-century American art. Located at 945 Madison Avenue at 75th Street in New York City, the Whitney's permanent collection contains more than 18,000 works in a wide variety of...
(New York), the James A. Michener Art Museum
James A. Michener Art Museum
The James A. Michener Art Museum is a private, non-profit museum in Doylestown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania founded in 1988 and named for the Pulitzer Prize–winning writer James A. Michener, a Doylestown resident...
(Pennsylvania), and the Columbus Museum of Art
Columbus Museum of Art
The Columbus Museum of Art is an art museum located in downtown Columbus, Ohio. Formed in 1878 as the Columbus Gallery of Fine Arts, it was the first art museum to register its charter with the state of Ohio.-Building:...
(Ohio), among others.
Career
Driggs studied at the Art Students League of New YorkArt Students League of New York
The Art Students League of New York is an art school located on West 57th Street in New York City. The League has historically been known for its broad appeal to both amateurs and professional artists, and has maintained for over 130 years a tradition of offering reasonably priced classes on a...
and in Italy (where Futurism
Futurism
Futurism was an artistic and social movement that originated in Italy in the early 20th century.Futurism or futurist may refer to:* Afrofuturism, an African-American and African diaspora subculture* Cubo-Futurism* Ego-Futurism...
influenced her) and eventually found herself in New York City where she became successful in the 1920s. In New York, she began to paint "the modern landscape of factories, bridges, and skyscrapers with geometric precision and almost abstract spareness." http://www.michenermuseum.org/bucksartists/artist.php?artist=67 However, it was in 1926 when she painted her most famous work, Pittsburgh, which is a painting of smokestacks of a Pittsburgh steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
factory. The painting has a black tone to it and depicts the murky and polluted atmosphere of Pittsburgh industrial life in what Driggs felt had an ironic beauty and intrigue. One year later, she painted another acclaimed work entitled Queensborough Bridge. In the 1930s, Driggs left her Precisionist works for more "whimsical watercolors and figurative paintings as well as murals for the WPA
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
"http://www.michenermuseum.org/bucksartists/artist.php?artist=67 Driggs married painter Lee Gatch
Lee Gatch
Lee Gatch , an American artist, was born in a rural community near Baltimore. He graduated from the Maryland Institute College of Art in the early 1920s and then studied in Europe for a few years before returning to the United States...
and eventually found herself in Lambertville, New Jersey
Lambertville, New Jersey
Lambertville is a city in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 3,906.Lambertville was originally incorporated as a town by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 1, 1849, from portions of West Amwell Township...
, dedicating her efforts to Gatch's career. In the 1960s, Driggs experimented with mixed media constructions and figurative paintings in pastels and oils. Until her death, Driggs was considered the most underrated and long-lived of the Precisionist painters.