- Artist
- Joseph Beuys 1921–1986
- Original title
- Weisse Frau in Gras (Fairy)
- Medium
- Graphite and watercolour on card
- Dimensions
- Support: 193 × 122 mm
frame: 673 × 540 × 29 mm - Collection
- ARTIST ROOMS Tate and National Galleries of Scotland
- Acquisition
- ARTIST ROOMS Acquired jointly with the National Galleries of Scotland through The d'Offay Donation with assistance from the National Heritage Memorial Fund and the Art Fund 2008
- Reference
- AR00101
Online caption
In his drawings, Joseph Beuys often makes connections between humans, our environment and primitive rituals. By referring to the female figure in this drawing as a 'fairy', the artist makes reference to folklore. Beuys was greatly knowledgeable about German folk customs but he was equally interested in shamanism and the tribal magic of other cultures. His use of colour is always deliberate and significant, and in this drawing, he has suggested the woman's connection to nature by surrounding her with green grass. His use of watercolour as a medium also ties in with his depictions of women as fluid and connected with water.
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