Born in New York City in 1907, Annette Nancarrow was an Art Major at Hunter College, received a Master of Fine Arts degree from Columbia University, and was awarded a scholarship to the National Academy of Design. She also was friendly with the "Big Three" Mexican painters in New York: Diego Rivera, Jose Clemente Orozco, and David Alfaro Siqueiros. They invited her to visit Mexico ... and she ended up moving there permanently. Nancarrow continued her art studies at the Academia de San Carlos in Mexico City and befriended most of the important Mexican artists of the day. Around 1940, she assisted Orozco with "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse," a vast mural on the massive ceiling and dome of the Templo de Jesus Catholic Chapel in downtown Mexico City. At the time, in a very sexist environment, this was considered an honor for a woman artist and Nancarrow considered it a highlight of her life. Multiple painters in Mexico created portraits of Nancarrow including Orozco, Jesus Guerrero Galvan, Federico Cantu, and Pedro Friedebarg. Diego Rivera painted her 2nd husband while Frida Kahlo dedicated a lithograph to her with the words, "Anita - Life has brought us together and I love you. Frida." In addition to painting, Nancarrow was a jewelry designer and studied archeology for inspiration. We see that in this intense self portrait with a scorpion necklace that might be associated with danger, mystery, or transformation. The painting is expressive and impasto creating texture and visible brushstrokes. The colors are rich and warm, with contrasting yellows and oranges against a darker background which lacks sharp delineation, focusing our attention on Nancarrow to make the self-portrait raw and emotional. Under a full head of curly, reddish-brown hair, the artist makes direct eye contact with us. She wears an orange top with a circular, dark teal brooch affixed to her chest in addition to the striking teal necklace featuring stylized scorpions.
Self Portrait by Annette Nancarrow (American) - Oil on canvas / No Date - Taubman Museum of Art (Roanoke, Virginia) #womeninart #art #womanartist #selfportrait #womensart #oilpainting #femaleartist #artwork #portraitofawoman #AnnetteNancarrow #Nancarrow #beauty #AmericanArtist #TaubmanMuseumofArt
