The Differences Between
Betye Saar
(American, born in 1926)
1989
Medium/TechniqueMixed media. Cotton velvet on pressboard with found objects: embossed laminated paper board, wood fan, photograph, partial glove, nylon netting, feather, watchface, hair ornaments.
Dimensions41.9 x 33 x 3.8 cm (16 1/2 x 13 x 1 1/2 in.)
Credit LineCurator's Grant Program of the Peter Norton Family Foundation
Accession number1991.533
On View
Not on viewClassificationsMixed media
Collections
"The Differences Between" investigates the complex multi-racial heritage of many African Americans. Saar combs flea markets and garage sales to gather materials to use in her work, as she believes cast off objects to be imbued with memories, dreams, and history. The Victorian photograph at the heart of Saar's romantic and nostalgic assemblage shows a white man and woman of African or Native American ancestry whose formal postures communicate an uneasy alliance.
Provenance1991, sold by the artist to the MFA. (Accession Date: September 25, 1991)
CopyrightReproduced with permission.
Betye Saar
