Francis Picabia's 'Américaine' from the cover of '391', July 1917

• Autores: Mariea Caudill Dennison
• Localización: Burlington magazine, ISSN 0007-6287, Vol. 146, Nº 1218, 2004, págs. 622-623
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • The writer argues that the source for Francis Picabia's Américaine image of 1917 was an Edison Mazda lightbulb. The illustration, which was used as the cover for the July 1917 issue of 391, consists of a modified readymade image of a lightbulb. An analysis of the characters etched on the bulb's base reveals the first letters of the Edison and Mazda registered trademarks. The illustration employs the characteristics associated with the famous brand name, reputed to outlast all other bulbs, to suggest that American women are unequaled. Américaine equates American women with radiant high energy, modern advances, and unconstrained openness to change.