Two Men at Café Table
Don Freeman, American, 1908 - 1978
about 1930s
Charcoal and ink wash on wove paper
Sheet: 7 5/16 × 6 3/8 in. (18.5 × 16.2 cm)
Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth: Gift of Susan E. Hardy, Nancy R. Wilsker, Sarah A. Stahl, and John S. Stahl in memory of their parents Barbara J. and David G. Stahl, Class of 1947
2014.73.6
Geography
Place Made: United States, North America
Period
20th century
Object Name
Drawing
Research Area
Drawing
Not on view
Inscriptions
Signed, lower left, in graphite: Don Freeman L F; numbered, lower left corner, in graphite: 12
Label
Two men huddle in conversation in an automat—a vending machine café that offered a low-priced alternative to full-service cafes in the early 20th century. To the left, one individual presses his knuckles against his chin in contemplation, while the other man gestures, suggesting the dynamism of the conversation. They lean in, listening, their expressions conveying their engagement. With simple food and beverage options alongside relatively few waitstaff, the café emphasizes speed, discourse, and spontaneity. Don Freeman’s sketchlike style and animation of the neighboring figures contribute to the scene’s improvisational tone.
From the 2024 exhibition A Space for Dialogue 118, Coffee and Tea in Art: A Brew of Cultural Symbolism, Solace, and Introspection, curated by Jeffrey Liu '24, Class of 1954 Intern
Exhibition History
A Space for Dialogue 118, Coffee and Tea in Art: A Brew of Cultural Symbolism, Solace, and Introspection, Jeffrey Liu '24, Class of 1954 Intern, Alvin P. Gutman Gallery, Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, May 11 - July 7, 2024
Recent Acquisition: The Stahl Collection of European and American Art, Ivan Albright Gallery, Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, August 1-December 7, 2015.
Provenance
Collected by Barbara Jaffe Stahl (1930-2004) and David Gerald Stahl (1926-2013), Manchester, New Hampshire; bequeathed to their children Susan E. Hardy, Nancy R. Wilsker, Sarah A. Stahl and John S. Stahl, 2013; given to present collection, 2014.
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