plate no. 0560

Grandma Moses Goes to the Big City

Grandma Moses, 1946

oilNaïve Art (Primitivism)landscapelandscapefarmbuildingsfigureshillssky

From the record

Dimensions: 36 in high × 48 in wide
Institution: Smithsonian American Art Museum
Location: Smithsonian American Art Museum
Inception: 1946
Materials: oil paint

man
woman
child
horse
plough
car
house
barn

Wikipedia article Wikidata item Q116619353

from the sources

The painting is a 1946 oil painting made when Grandma Moses was 86 and signed "Moses". en.wikipedia.org
“Grandma Moses Goes to the Big City is a 1946 oil painting by the American outsider painter Grandma Moses, produced at age 86 and signed "Moses".”
The painting has been in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection since 2016. en.wikipedia.org
“It has been in the collection of the Smithsonian American Art Museum since 2016.”
The painting depicts the artist's home in Eagle Bridge, New York, with herself as the central figure among family and friends while a car waits. en.wikipedia.org
“It shows the artist's impression of her home in Eagle Bridge, New York, with herself as the central figure with family and friends while an automobile awaits.”
The other figures in the painting are shown doing farm tasks, which emphasizes that she is leaving a going concern. en.wikipedia.org
“The other figures are working various tasks around the farm, emphasizing that she is leaving a going concern.”
The painting is one of very few large 36 x 48 inch canvases by the artist. en.wikipedia.org
“The painting is one of very few large 36 x 48 inch works on canvas, which came about because her friend Ala Story sent her larger prepared canvases and boards that she could not hold in her characteristic way, but painted them spread on her bed.”
The painting was one of forty chosen for the book Grandma Moses American Primitive, in which she told her story in her own words. en.wikipedia.org
“This painting was one of forty selected for her to tell her story in her own words in the book Grandma Moses American Primitive:”

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition, focusing on the placement of buildings, hills, and the road.
step 02
Block in the sky with a light blue, gradually adding subtle variations in tone.
step 03
Paint the distant hills with muted greens and blues to create atmospheric perspective.
step 04
Establish the main areas of green for the fields and foliage, using different shades to suggest depth.
step 05
Add the buildings, starting with the larger shapes and then adding details like windows and doors.
step 06
Paint the road and stone walls, paying attention to their winding paths and textures.
step 07
Populate the scene with figures and animals, simplifying their forms and focusing on their placement.
step 08
Add final details such as trees, flowers, and small accents to bring the scene to life.

color palette

primary · light blue · green · red-brown · white

secondary · yellow · brown · black · gray

Mix greens by combining blues and yellows, adjusting the proportions for different shades. Achieve the red-brown of the barns by mixing red, brown, and a touch of black. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights.

techniques

·layering
·dry brushing
·simplification
·atmospheric perspective
·scumbling

common pitfalls

→Overcomplicating the details too early in the process.
→Using colors that are too saturated, which can flatten the image.
→Ignoring the importance of atmospheric perspective in creating depth.
→Making the figures too detailed and realistic, which would clash with the naive style.