The Three Legends
- 1992
- Acrylic Gel
- 27" x 35"
The Three Legends are, top to bottom, Bette Davis, (probably) Joan Crawford, and Rita Hayworth.
This painting is one of the very few where the artist appears to have just played it straight. Just a simple tribute borne of genuine admiration.
No jokes, irony, subplots, con jobs, head fakes, drugginess, buffoonery, genitalia cover-ups, mystery characters, frenetic energy, sensory overload, multiple personalities, and most of all no revelations hiding in plain sight.
Finally we can relax.**
With only the standard elements of color, form and composition to vie for our attention, Harriet in her brief formative period was not yet playing to some of her greatest strengths. They would arrive soon enough, but even in their absence she manages to keep things interesting.
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**Actually, we may have to stay tensed up. Enlarge the painting and check out the yellow “leaf” closest to Rita Hayworth, who probably deserved better.