Research Catalog

Title

[Paintings] [graphic].

Author

Duncan, Irma.

Publication

1952-1955.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Description

7 paintings on canvas board : oil, color; 72 x 56 cm. or smaller.

Summary

Seven paintings, all but one depicting human figures. The unsigned and undated painting appears to be the earliest. It depicts a woman and little girl in street clothes facing a barefooted woman in a Greek tunic, who may be Isadora Duncan or Irma herself. The baskets of flowers in the background suggest that the setting may be a theatre dressing room. The other paintings, which are all signed and dated, are, in chronological order: Scarfdance [labeled on the verso], portraying five female dancers in Greek tunics, 1952; a little girl in a blue coat and hat, posed against a background decorated with a treble clef, 1953; a woman reading to a little girl, in the style of Mary Cassatt, 1953; a bust-length, full-face portrait of a woman, possibly a self-portrait, 1954; a Greek? landscape viewed from across water, with a sailing ship and views of buildings and a road zigzagging up a steep hill, 1954; a nude woman draped in a salmon-pink scarf, dancing in a landscape, 1955.

Genre/Form

Paintings.

Note

• Title devised by cataloger.
• Six paintings are signed and dated; one is unsigned and undated.

Source (note)

• Irma Duncan.

Biography (note)

• Irma Duncan, born Irma Ehrich-Grimme, 1897-1977, was a foster daughter of American modern dance pioneer Isadora Duncan. Selected from Isadora's dance school in Grunwald, Germany, she performed as one of the six Isadorables, and later changed her name legally to Duncan. She accompanied Isadora to Moscow in 1921, ultimately becoming the head of the school Isadora founded there. She settled in the United States in 1930, married an American, became a citizen, and opened her own school in New York City. Her autobiography Duncan dancer was published in 1966.

Call Number

*MGZGV 12-2326

OCLC

827003998

Author

Duncan, Irma.

Title

[Paintings] [graphic].

Imprint

1952-1955.

Biography

Irma Duncan, born Irma Ehrich-Grimme, 1897-1977, was a foster daughter of American modern dance pioneer Isadora Duncan. Selected from Isadora's dance school in Grunwald, Germany, she performed as one of the six Isadorables, and later changed her name legally to Duncan. She accompanied Isadora to Moscow in 1921, ultimately becoming the head of the school Isadora founded there. She settled in the United States in 1930, married an American, became a citizen, and opened her own school in New York City. Her autobiography Duncan dancer was published in 1966.

Local Note

Cataloging funds provided by Friends of Jerome Robbins Dance Division.

Source

Gift; Irma Duncan.

Local Subject

Duncan dancing.

Added Author

Duncan, Irma. Donor

Research Call Number

*MGZGV 12-2326