Pat Steir (American, born 1940). <em>Everlasting Waterfall</em>, 1989. Oil on canvas, 108 1/2 x 95 x 2 in. (275.6 x 241.3 x 5.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the Contemporary Art Council and purchased with funds given by National Endowment for the Arts Museum Purchase Plan, and gift of Edward A. Bragaline, by exchange, 1990.109. © artist or artist's estate (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1990.109_PS2.jpg)

Pat Steir (American, born 1940). Everlasting Waterfall, 1989. Oil on canvas, 108 1/2 x 95 x 2 in. (275.6 x 241.3 x 5.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the Contemporary Art Council and purchased with funds given by National Endowment for the Arts Museum Purchase Plan, and gift of Edward A. Bragaline, by exchange, 1990.109. © artist or artist's estate (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1990.109_PS2.jpg)

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What's the school of this painting? Is it Abstract?

The artist, Pat Steir, created this in 1989 and although it looks like abstract expressionism (think Jackson Pollock), the artist does not consider herself a member of that school, which took place earlier (1940s-50s).

The style is abstract (in the label, the curator comments that this work "verges on abstraction"), but the artist does not subscribe to a certain "art school" or "movement" per se. She has her own individual influences, such as Chinese and Japanese culture and art, as well as Abstract Expressionism.

I love the sense of movement in the piece. Was it inspired by a waterfall?

Yes, it was indeed you are spot on. This piece is called "Everlasting Waterfall" and was inspired by Steir's interest in both landscape as imagery and the properties of paint as water. You may have already found the label, but it outlines how the artist applied a number of horizontal brushstrokes loaded with thinned paint at the top of the canvas, and the paint streamed down in lines, drips, and rivulets, emulating the properties of water.

How was this painting made?

Pat Steir keeps the canvas vertical and lets the paint run down the surface. She thins the paint first, so that it streams down in fine rivulets and drips.

You can see how gravity pulls the paint downward. There's an element of chance because she can't control the paint once it starts moving. I think it gives the finished painting a very mysterious effect.

What is the waterfall supposed to represent?

This piece is called "Everlasting Waterfall" and was inspired by Steir's interest in both landscape as imagery and the liquid properties of paint. You may have already found the label, but it outlines how the artist applied a number of horizontal brushstrokes loaded with thinned paint along the top edge of the canvas, and the paint streamed down in lines, drips, and, rivulets, just like water would.

Her subject is partly the natural landscape. Her subject could also be paint itself: its physical properties and how what it does when it's allowed to follow the pull of gravity. She didn't manipulate the paint's "fall," because she was interested giving up control and letting chance take over.

I've seen this before but I want to know more!

Sure! This is Pat Steir's "Everlasting Waterfall."

This piece was inspired by Steir's interest in landscape as imagery and in the liquid properties of paint. You may have already found the label, but it outlines how the artist applied a number of horizontal brushstrokes loaded with thinned paint along the top edge of the canvas, and the paint streamed down in lines and drips just like water would.

Did she also use the horizontal drip method on the bottom? Or did she free drip that part? The drips are far more random in that section.

From my observation, it looks like she freely dripped at the bottom. Maybe to get that splash effect, like the splash that you would see when the falls hits the water/ground.

Does Hegarty live in Brooklyn?

Yes! She lives in Brooklyn.

That makes sense! A lot of the contemporary artists in the Museum seem to live here. I'm heading out now, have a great afternoon!

Many definitely do! Enjoy the rest of your day.

Everlasting Waterfall

Pat Steir

Contemporary Art

In her Waterfall series, Pat Steir has explored the imagery of water, continuing her fascination with landscape. This work, which verges on abstraction, is nevertheless an evocative representation of a waterfall. The artist applied a number of horizontal brushstrokes loaded with thinned paint at the top of the canvas, and the paint streamed down in lines, drips, and rivulets, emulating the properties of water.

ARTIST Pat Steir, American, born 1940

MEDIUM Oil on canvas

DATES 1989

DIMENSIONS 108 1/2 x 95 x 2 in. (275.6 x 241.3 x 5.1 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Contemporary Art

ACCESSION NUMBER 1990.109

CREDIT LINE Gift of the Contemporary Art Council and purchased with funds given by National Endowment for the Arts Museum Purchase Plan, and gift of Edward A. Bragaline, by exchange

EXHIBITIONS

American Identities: A New Look

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view

CAPTION Pat Steir (American, born 1940). Everlasting Waterfall, 1989. Oil on canvas, 108 1/2 x 95 x 2 in. (275.6 x 241.3 x 5.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the Contemporary Art Council and purchased with funds given by National Endowment for the Arts Museum Purchase Plan, and gift of Edward A. Bragaline, by exchange, 1990.109. © artist or artist's estate (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1990.109_PS2.jpg)

IMAGE overall, 1990.109_PS2.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2008

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RIGHTS STATEMENT © Pat Steir

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