2011.46: A Woman Shall Compass Man

Identification and Creation

Object Number

2011.46

People

Howard Finster, American (Valley Head, AL 1916-2001 Rome, GA)

Title

A Woman Shall Compass Man

Classification

Paintings

Work Type

painting

Date

c. 1978

Culture

American

Persistent Link

https://hvrd.art/o/337432

Physical Descriptions

Medium

Enamel on masonite, glitter, on frame

Dimensions

57.8 x 95.3 cm (22 3/4 x 37 1/2 in.)

Inscriptions and Marks

• Signed: l.c.l.: BY HOWARD FINSTER MAN/ OF VISIONS HOSEA-12-10; on verso in black ink: By HOWARD FINSTER MAN OF VISIONS HOSEA-12-10 Dec. 1-1978
• inscription: inscribed l.l: JER-31-22 A WOMAN SHALL COMPASS MAN./ THE END OF EARTHS ROAD LEADS TO CRATORS OF OTHER/ WORLDS. WOMEN SHALL OUTNUBER MAN AND GROW/ IN GREAT POWER BEFORE THE END OF EARTHS PLANET./ THE PROPHETS OF GOD NEVER FAIL./ NO MAN KNOWS THE FUTURE EXCEPT GOD SHOWS HIM. AFTER THAT NO MAN CHANGE HIM. FOREVER./ THE HOWARD FINSTER FUTURE STUDIO IN MY/ FATHERS HOUSE ARE MANNY [sic] MANSIONS
  inscribed center, on self-portrait: HOWARD
  inscribed l.c.: CRATORS/ OF/ OTHER/ WORLDS/ 1000 AND 266/ PAINTINGS/ SINCE 1976
  inscribed u.c., below woman's arm: SHE WILL PICK THEM UP AND SIT/ THEM DOWN.
  inscribed l.r., on woman's shoe: WOMAN/ POWER/ IN MEN/ SHOES
  inscribed l.r.: HEY, SET THE CASTLE DOWN
• inscription: on verso, in black ink: enamel on T.V. Side
• label: on verso, picture of young man; inscribed in pen: Howard Finster
• label: on verso, picture of a Finster painting, text reads: "by the Reverend Howard Finster"

Provenance

Recorded Ownership History

Howard Finster, sold; to Jeff and Jane Camp; [Cavin-Morris/Ethnographic Arts, Inc., New York, NY]; Didi and David Barrett, NY, gift; to the Harvard Art Museums, 2011.

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line

Harvard Art Museums/Fogg Museum, Collection of Didi & David Barrett ‘71

Copyright

© Howard Finster/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

Accession Year

2011

Object Number

2011.46

Division

Modern and Contemporary Art

Contact

am_moderncontemporary@harvard.edu

Permissions

The Harvard Art Museums encourage the use of images found on this website for personal, noncommercial use, including educational and scholarly purposes. To request a higher resolution file of this image, please submit an online request.

Publication History

• J. F. Turner, Howard Finster: Man of Visions, Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. (New York, 1989), ill. p. 143

Exhibition History

• The Road to Heaven is Paved by Good Works: The Art of Reverend Howard Finster, Paine Webber Gallery, 09/21/1989 - 01/05/1990
• Millenial Dreams: The Utopian Vision in American Folk Art, Museum of American Folk Art, 11/13/1999 - 05/14/2000

Verification Level