Dorothy Dehner On Paper

By the 1980s, abstract expressionism was out of style. Many great mid-century artists, especially women, were forgotten or neglected. But today, scholars, collectors and dealers are reevaluating the canon of art history.

Dorothy Dehner (1901–1994) is a perfect example of an artist who has been reclaimed and repositioned. For many years, her identity was simply David Smith's ex-wife. But in her lifetime, she was an accomplished and acclaimed artist in her own right. The National Gallery, the Met, the MoMA and many other American museums have significant holdings of her prints, drawings and sculptures.