NKL | Spencer Museum of Art

Robert Arthur Goodnough, artist

1917–2010

NKL, 1992

Where object was made: New York, United States

Material/technique: oil; acrylic; canvas

Dimensions:
Object Height/Width (Height x Width): 76.2 x 157.48 cm
Object Height/Width (Height x Width): 30 x 62 in

Credit line: Gift of the artist

Accession number: 1999.0357

Not on display

Add to portfolio

If you wish to reproduce this image, please submit an image request

Images

Label texts

Robert Goodnough was an American painter known for his calligraphic mark making and blockish abstractions composed of layered colors and geometric shapes. Though he was associated with the Abstract Expressionists, Goodnough’s work varied in style and eluded categorization. He explained: “I like to work freely, to slash with the brush and let loose. I also like to work carefully and with discipline.”

Born in 1917 in Cortland, New York, Goodnough graduated from Syracuse University and painted in a representational style early in his career. After serving in the military during World War II, he attended the painting classes of French Cubist Amédée Ozenfant (1886–1966) and German-born artist Hans Hofmann (1880–1966). Their influences can be seen in this work, which was included in one of Goodnough’s last New York shows.