Man Up! Man Down!: Images of Masculinity from the Harnett Print Study Center Collection

What does it mean to “be a man” in modern society? How have the clichés of manhood that are pervasive throughout Western history shaped current societal pressures while being challenged by movements such as feminism and multiculturalism? And how does the depiction of these pressures affect our interpretation of art?

The prints and drawings in the exhibition examine different perspectives of the concept of masculinity, as defined by society and history and as depicted in visual culture. These images build upon and challenge art historical traditions of portraiture and figure studies of men, who are often shown as heroic, patriarchal, aggressive, and occasionally as objects of beauty. Included are works that question a range of stereotypical experiences and identities, such as the strong-silent type, the man-child, the chilvalrous adventurer, the creative genius, and the dandy. Some of the artists featured in the exhibition include Howard Finster (American, 1916-2001), Diego Lasansky (American, born 1994), Reginald Marsh (American, born in France, 1898-1954), Barbara Tisserat (American, 1951-2017), and Andy Warhol (American, 1928-1987).

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website