Nanabah St I

Nanabah St I, 1974, lithograph, State I by R.C. Gorman. This is the first state of a multi-state lithographic composition featuring a reclining figure in classical repose. A woman lies in relaxed contemplation, her dark hair swept into a bun and rendered in warm burnt sienna tones, while her body is defined by elegant contour lines in black ink. The minimal background emphasizes form and the subtle play of tone across the figure. The ‘St I’ designation indicates this is State I, the first variation in what may be a series exploring the same compositional theme with variations in line work, tone, or detail. A significant example of Gorman’s exploration of figural composition in the mid-1970s.