Painting Item Number: A9050 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Painting of a figure and a fish in red, yellow, black, and green on white paper stock. Humanoid figure has a whale on his back, a whale head on his hip joint, a bear head in his abdomen, protruding fang-like teeth, and paw-like hands and feet; figure is crouching with arms and hands arranged as if about to jump. A large fish-like figure with its tail curled up beneath its jaw snarls with an open, fanged mouth at the humanoid figure; the majority of the fish's body is cut off by the edge of the paper. Pencil inscription underneath main figure reads 'BAKWÍS man in the water'. Framed and mounted on a large burlap-covered board.
Narrative
One of a set originally painted in a spiral drawing book while Mungo Martin was in a Vancouver hospital in 1951.
Iconographic Meaning
Represents Pugwis, a fish man.
Item History
- Made by Mungo Martin (Maker) in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada during 1951
- Collected by Harry Hawthorn during 1951
- Owned by Mungo Martin before 1951
- Received from Mungo Martin (Seller) and Museum Purchase (Funding source) during 1951
What
- Name
- Painting
- Identification Number
- A9050
- Type of Item
- painting
- Overall
- height 30.5 cm, width 43.8 cm
Who
- Culture
- Kwakwaka'wakw
- Creator
- Mungo Martin (Maker)
- Field Collector
- Harry Hawthorn
- Previous Owner
- Mungo Martin
- Received from
- Mungo Martin (Seller) and Museum Purchase (Funding source)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
When
- Creation Date
- during 1951
- Collection Date
- during 1951
- Ownership Date
- before 1951
- Acquisition Date
- during 1951
Other
- Item Classes
- works on paper
- Condition
- fair
- Accession Number
- 2064/0009