A painting of a brown leg surrounded by white enamel paint on top of pasted newspapers.

Brown Stocking Leg Against Silver

Artist Claes Thure Oldenburg (American, 1929 - 2022)

Date1961

Mediumenamel on newspaper

DimensionsSheet: 21 9/16 × 15 inches (54.8 × 38.1 cm)
Framed: 22 × 15 inches (55.9 × 38.1 cm)

Credit LineGift of Agnes Gund in honor of Kirk Varnedoe.

Object number2006.56

On View

Not on view

Copyright© Claes Oldenburg. The images and text contained on this page are owned by Telfair Museums or used by the Museum with permission from the owners. Unauthorized reproduction, transmission or display of these materials is prohibited with the exception of items deemed “fair use” as defined by U.S. and international copyright laws.Label TextClaes Oldenburg is best known for his playful, large-scale sculptures representing everyday objects. This work dates from a significant period in Oldenburg’s development. In 1961, Oldenburg opened his “store” in a gritty location in New York’s Lower East Side, exhibiting raw works - paintings and sculpture - made from humble materials, such as newsprint, burlap and plaster. In this work a woman’s stocking leg is painted roughly on newspaper in a manner that suggests Abstract Expressionism while looking forward to Pop Art. This work was given to Telfair by noted New York based philanthropist and arts advocate Agnes Gund in honor of Kirk Varnedoe. Gund served as MOMA’s board chair during Varnedoe’s tenure as curator. A 2013 exhibit at MOMA highlights Oldenburg’s art from the formative period which produced this painting.

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