Bradley Walker Tomlin

Key facts

Lived

1899–1955, American^[1]

Movement

• Abstract Expressionism

^[1]

Works held in

5 museums

Wikipedia

View article

Plan your visit to see Bradley Walker Tomlin →

• What is Bradley Walker Tomlin known for?+

  Bradley Walker Tomlin is known for his Abstract Expressionist paintings. These paintings, created from 1948^[1], feature calligraphic marks in white over dark backgrounds.
• What is Bradley Walker Tomlin's most famous work?+

  It is difficult to name Bradley Walker Tomlin's single 'most famous work'. He is best known as a mid-century abstract expressionist, developing his mature style in the late 1940s. Early in his career, Tomlin worked in a cubist-influenced figurative style. After 1945^[1], his painting moved into a calligraphic abstract style, with looping brushstrokes. His paintings from the late 1940s and early 1950s are now considered his most important work, although none is a clear 'signature piece'. Examples of his mature abstract style include paintings such as *Number 9: In Praise of Gertrude Stein* (1950), *Armistice* (1953), and *Tension by Descent* (1954). These paintings typify his all-over compositions and lyrical brushwork.
• What should I know about Bradley Walker Tomlin's prints?+

  Printmaking involves creating an image on a matrix (such as a woodblock, stone, or screen), then transferring it to paper. Each print in an edition is considered an original, not a copy. The artist determines the edition size, and each print is individually inked and pulled. The edition number is written on the bottom left margin of the print, expressed as a fraction (for example, 12/25, meaning the 12th print in an edition of 25). The print's title is written in the centre, and the artist's signature appears on the right. These conventions, while not legally binding, are widely respected among printmakers. Proofing is a critical stage where the artist tests the print's feel and makes artistic decisions. It can be a lengthy process, especially with multiple blocks, as each affects the others. Reviewing proofs over time is important for identifying subtle points and achieving a great print. The artist's choice limits an edition, not technical limitations.
• What style or movement did Bradley Walker Tomlin belong to?+

  Bradley Walker Tomlin (1899^[1]-1953^[1]) is generally categorised as an Abstract Expressionist. This categorisation, however, requires some qualification. Tomlin's early work, before the 1940s, was figurative. He worked in a Cubist style, producing still lifes and portraits. By the late 1940s, his style had shifted decisively toward abstraction. He developed a personal vocabulary of calligraphic marks and worked in a muted colour palette. While associated with the New York School of Abstract Expressionism^[1], Tomlin's approach differed from some of his contemporaries. Artists such as Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning were associated with a more gestural, action-oriented style. Tomlin's work, in contrast, was more deliberate and controlled. His compositions often feature balanced arrangements of repeated forms. Some critics have noted a lyrical quality in his paintings, setting him apart from the more overtly dramatic styles of other Abstract Expressionists. His mature works include *Number 9: In Praise of Gertrude Stein* (1950) and *Armistice* (1953).
• What techniques or materials did Bradley Walker Tomlin use?+

  Bradley Walker Tomlin worked primarily with oil paint. To prepare his canvases, he applied two coats of turps-thinned Flake White primer to cotton duck that had been sized with animal-skin glue; he then sanded the surface when dry. When applying colour, Tomlin mixed standard artist's oil paint with a medium of wax and turpentine. He kept this medium warm on a hot plate and mixed small amounts with the paint by brush just before application. The mixture was applied to the canvas with a brush and worked over, ensuring the medium and paint were thoroughly mixed and evenly covering the shape. He then manipulated the paint with a large painting spatula and a small painting knife until he achieved the desired effect. Tomlin aimed for consistent surfaces within a single painting. He noted that extensive heating of the medium could lead to evaporation, making the paint gummy. He often re-used leftover paint, including the wax, when mixing subsequent colours. Although he was never precise about the amount of wax added, oil remained the primary binder, unlike encaustic techniques where wax is the binder.
• What was Bradley Walker Tomlin known for?+

  Bradley Walker Tomlin (1899^[1]-1953^[1]) is an American^[1] artist known for his abstract expressionist works. He is particularly recognised for his paintings featuring calligraphic strokes, which have been likened to bird scratchings. These marks create a unique visual language within his compositions. Tomlin's work places him among other Abstract Expressionists, such as Adolph Gottlieb, James Brooks and Robert Motherwell. Gottlieb is known for his 'burst' paintings, Brooks for inventing stain painting, and Motherwell for his 'elegies' for the Spanish Republic. These artists, along with Tomlin, contributed to the development of abstract art in America during the mid-20th century. Tomlin's distinctive style sets him apart within this group, marking his contribution to the Abstract Expressionist movement.
• When did Bradley Walker Tomlin live and work?+

  Bradley Walker Tomlin was born in 1899^[1] in Syracuse, New York. He died in 1953^[1] in New York City. Tomlin studied at Syracuse University from 1917 to 1921. He then moved to New York City and studied at the Art Students League. During the 1920s, he worked as a commercial artist and portrait painter. In the late 1930s, Tomlin began to experiment with abstract art. He was influenced by cubism and surrealism. By the 1940s, he had developed his own distinctive style of abstract expressionism. His mature work often featured calligraphic brushstrokes and a muted colour palette. Tomlin exhibited his work regularly in New York City galleries. He had his first solo exhibition in 1946 at the Frank K. M. Rehn Gallery. He taught at several art schools, including the Modern School of Art and the Art Students League.
• Where can I see Bradley Walker Tomlin's work?+

  While a comprehensive list is difficult to compile, several museums hold works by Bradley Walker Tomlin. In the United States, these include the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), the Museum of Modern Art (New York), the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (Richmond), the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American^[1] Art (Winter Park, Florida), the Wolfsonian at Florida International University (Miami Beach), the National Gallery of Art (Washington DC), the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden (Washington DC), the Phillips Collection (Washington DC), the Whitney Museum of American Art (New York), and the Yale University Art Gallery (New Haven). Outside the United States, Tomlin's work can be viewed at the Royal Ontario Museum (Toronto).
• Where was Bradley Walker Tomlin from?+

  Bradley Walker Tomlin was born in Syracuse, New York, in 1899^[1]. He spent his early years in that area. Later, he pursued his artistic education in New York City. Tomlin's initial artistic training occurred at Syracuse University, where he studied from 1917^[1] to 1921. Following his time at Syracuse, he moved to New York City to further his studies at the Art Students League. There, he connected with a community of artists and began developing his individual style. Although he spent his formative years and received early training in upstate New York, Tomlin's career was primarily based in New York City. He became associated with the New York School of abstract expressionists. His mature work developed in that artistic milieu.
• Who did Bradley Walker Tomlin influence?+

  It is difficult to make definitive claims about Bradley Walker Tomlin's influence on later artists based on the provided texts. The passages do not directly address Tomlin or his impact on the art world. Instead, they offer a broad overview of American^[1] painters and their influences, from the early portraitists John Singleton Copley and Gilbert Stuart to later figures such as Winslow Homer, Thomas Eakins, and George Bellows. The texts suggest a complex web of artistic relationships, with American artists drawing inspiration from various sources, including British, French, and German traditions. For example, Benjamin West emulated French historical painters, while others were influenced by the Munich school or British artists. Homer was seemingly influenced by Eakins, and Bellows is considered a descendant of Chase. However, these passages do not establish a clear line of influence connecting Tomlin to any particular artist or movement.
• Who influenced Bradley Walker Tomlin?+

  Bradley Walker Tomlin's artistic development involved exposure to several influences. At Black Mountain College, Josef Albers' Bauhaus principles were pervasive, though Tomlin's contemporary, Kenneth Noland, found Albers too rigid. Ilya Bolotowsky, another instructor, introduced Noland (and presumably other students) to Impressionism, Cubism, Neo-Plasticism, and Surrealism. Bolotowsky conveyed Piet Mondrian's ideas regarding colour relations and space. Other Bauhaus figures such as Kandinsky, Klee, and Schwitters also affected students at Black Mountain. Paul Klee's use of Cubism and colour to convey mood, as well as his proto-Surrealist images, captured the imagination of some, including Noland. Klee sought to reduce natural phenomena to fundamental elements, reconciling these forms with metaphysical beliefs. Later, Noland was drawn to Jackson Pollock's automatism, which involved chance and spontaneous images, freeing the artist from traditional constraints.
• Who was Bradley Walker Tomlin?+

  Bradley Walker Tomlin (born 1899^[1], died 1953^[1]) was an American^[1] artist associated with the Abstract Expressionist movement. Tomlin was born in Syracuse, New York. He studied at Syracuse University, and later in Paris. His early work was influenced by Cubism and European modernism. By the late 1940s, Tomlin had developed his signature style of abstract compositions featuring calligraphic brushstrokes and layered colours. These mature works are often characterised by a sense of balance, quietude and contemplative feeling. Tomlin exhibited at the Phillips Collection, Washington, D.C., in a show also including Mark Rothko and Kenzo Okada (1957). He was represented by the Betty Parsons Gallery in New York. Although he achieved recognition during his lifetime, his contribution to American art history has been somewhat overshadowed by better-known figures in the New York School.