The Missed Leap
John Steuart Curry, The Missed Leap, 1934; printed 1935, lithograph on cream wove paper, Bequest of Charles Henry Leavitt, © artist or other rights holder, 59.26.30
This work is not currently on view.
- Title
The Missed Leap
- Artist
- Related People
publisher: Associated American Artists (American, established 1934)
- Date
1934; printed 1935
- Medium
lithograph on cream wove paper
- Edition
edition of 250
- Catalogue Raisonné
Cole 23; Czestochowski C-19; Windisch and Cole 7
- Dimensions (H x W x D)
image: 16 7/8 in x 9 3/4 in; sheet: 20 5/16 in x 13 1/4 in
- Inscriptions & Markings
stamp: FROM PRINT COLLECTION // CHARLES HENRY LEAVITT, black ink, verso; lower middle Language: English
date: 1935, graphite, lower left
title: "The Missed Leap", graphite, lower left Language: English
signature: Curry, printed, lower left in stone
signature: John Steuart Curry, graphite, lower right
- Collection Area
Graphic Arts
- Category
Prints
- Object Type
planographic print
- Culture
American
- Credit Line
Bequest of Charles Henry Leavitt
- Accession Number
59.26.30
- Copyright
© artist or other rights holder
- Terms
In the spring of 1932, John Steuart Curry accompanied the Ringling Bros. Circus on tour for six weeks, later creating a series of sketches, prints, and paintings capturing carnival life. The Missed Leap depicts two performers in a peak moment of drama. Curry used light to heighten the drama, and to draw attention to the floor of the circus tent, where the falling woman is sure to land. Fascinated by aerialists, Curry used them as subjects for some of his most dynamic circus imagery.
- Exhibitions
2008 Making Merry: the Circus and Carnival in Graphic Art Portland Art Museum
2019 Associated American Artists: Prints for the People Portland Art Museum
