The Eclipse

Object Details

Date
1970
Artist
Alma Thomas, born Columbus, GA 1891-died Washington, DC 1978
Exhibition Label
The Eclipse was the last work Thomas created as part of her “Space” series. It was inspired by the total solar eclipse that occurred on March 7, 1970, and was visible from across the Eastern United States, including Washington, DC.
In a total eclipse, the moon blocks the view of the sun from Earth, appearing like a hole in the sky and allowing the sun’s corona, usually masked by bright light, to become visible. With its dark blue core and radiating rings of color, Thomas’s painting captures this rare moment of celestial alignment, its off-center composition suggesting the progressive movement of the moon across the sky.
Topic
Abstract
See more items in
Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection
Department
Painting and Sculpture
On View
Smithsonian American Art Museum, 2nd Floor, South Wing
Credit Line
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist
Data Source
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Object number
1978.40.3
Type
Painting
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Medium
acrylic on canvas
Dimensions
62 in. × 49 3/4 in. (157.5 × 126.4 cm)
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/vk776d47588-3266-4209-9d87-64339cb9bf26
Record ID
saam_1978.40.3