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Artwork of the Week

Artwork of the Week: May 15, 2023

Climbing Tree
Mahonri M. Young (1877-1957), 'Climbing a Tree,' no date, ink and watercolor, 9 7/8 x 5 ¼ inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, purchase/gift of Mahonri M. Young Estate, 1959.

Mahonri M. Young (1877-1957), 'Climbing a Tree,' no date, ink and watercolor, 9 7/8 x 5 ¼ inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, purchase/gift of Mahonri M. Young Estate, 1959.

First, consider the act of climbing a tree—a dauntless act for a big kid. So naturally, it is the eldest and tallest, a confident Mahonri has buccaneered his way above the groundlings. Perpetually, each of these three children will compare their memory of Climbing a Tree because they were illuminated, recorded, and learned so much from their gentile and agile elder brother. Yet, this athleticism isn’t only strength and adeptness, the baby has confidence from that which is is manifested in the watercolor: Mahonri washed the warm space that they occupy in every direction—a golden corona--and invites the youngsters to be made more confident and eventually more ascendent. More glorious.