Arthur Garfield Dove
(1880-1946)

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Arthur Dove was an American abstract painter, born in Canandaigua, New York. Dove grew up in a rural setting and loved spending time in the outdoors. As a child, Dove was interested in music, athletics, nature and the arts.

Dove attended Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, where he first became interested in illustration. After finishing school, Dove moved to New York City to work as a commercial illustrator. Dove married and in 1907, travelled with his wife to Europe. They spent an extended length of time in Paris, Italy and Spain. Dove was exposed to new styles of painting in Europe, including the work of Matisse. Dove painted alongside a group of artists from the United States. Alfred Henry Maurer was Dove’s close friend and painting companion for several years.

When Dove returned to the United States, he no longer wanted to resume a career as a commercial artist. Dove moved outside of the city, where he farmed, fished and painted.

In 1909 Dove was introduced to Alfred Stieglitz, a well-known photographer and gallery owner in New York City. Stieglitz promoted Dove’s work and represented him at his 291 Gallery. In 1912 Dove had his only solo exhibition, which was the first public showing of abstract work by an American artist. Dove showed a group of pastels known as the “Ten Commandments”. Dove was a huge success in the art scene and began showing with Stieglitz on a regular basis.

Dove’s paintings were based on organic forms and he referred to his style as “extraction”, because he extracted forms from nature. Dove used mixed media, experimenting with collage, hand mixed oil paint and wax emulsions. Dove referred to his mixed-media pieces as “assemblages”.

Dove’s career as a painter put a severe strain on his marriage, which ended in a permanent separation. Dove proceeded to spend seven years living on a houseboat with Helen Torr, a painter known as “Red”. When Dove’s wife unexpectedly died, Dove married Red. Dove was also able to strengthen his relationship with his son, Bill.

Dove and Red continued to take painting, boat trips around Long Island’s North Shore. In 1938 they bought their first house, a converted post office in Centerport, New York. Dove and Red spent the rest of their lives in their up state home.

In 1979 Dove and Red’s paintings were displayed together at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Dove’s work now hangs in major museums across the United States. Dove is remembered as one of the first American abstract painters. Do you think you own a painting by Arthur Dove? Contact us. We are the experts on Arthur Dove.