The artwork entitled “The Wing” was created by the artist Francis Picabia around the year 1922. Employing a combination of pencil, ink, and watercolor on paper, Picabia realized this figurative piece during the Dada movement, a period known for its avant-garde and anti-establishment sentiments. Measuring 62.5 by 47.5 centimeters, it currently resides in a private collection.
“The Wing” features an abstracted human figure seemingly suspended and fragmented amid bold geometric forms. The central figure is surrounded by dark, amorphous shapes and is flanked by stark black vertical lines that suggest containment or limitation. The artwork is characterized by a loose, gestural drawing style, with watercolor tones that bleed into one another, giving it an ethereal quality. The figure’s outstretched arms, combined with the title, may imply a yearning for flight or transcendence. The geometric shapes and sharp lines juxtaposed with the fluidity of the figure and the splotches of watercolor embody the Dadaist approach of challenging conventional aesthetics and exploring new forms of artistic expression.