Great American Nude
7 1/2 x 7 3/4 x 1 inches
Little Nude (I.C.A. 6), 1966
7 1/2 x 7 3/4 x 1 inches
frame: 9 1/2 x 9 1/2 inches
Edition of 75 + 24 AP’s + 1 Bon à tirer
Incised verso "Wesselmann 66" with edition number
Published by Tanglewood Press, Inc., New York, for inclusion in 7 Objects in a Box
Tom Wesselmann Digital Catalogue Raisonné Project
The Tom Wesselmann Digital Corpus, reference number TWQLQX, registration number
P661; another example reproduced. The catalogue raisonné project is maintained by the Wildenstein Plattner Institute as part of the official digital corpus of the artist’s work.
Provenance
Tanglewood Press, Inc., New York
Private Collection, New York
Literature
Tom Wesselmann, Slim Stealingworth, Abbeville Press,1980, pg. 28, another impression reproduced.
Selected Museum Collections
Museum of Modern Art, New York
Harvard Art Museums/Fogg Museum, Cambridge
Tom Wesselmann, a pivotal figure in the Pop Art movement, is widely celebrated for his iconic Great American Nude series—provocative, stylized depictions of faceless nude women rendered in bold color and clean lines. Throughout the 1960s, Wesselmann explored a range of media including painting, drawing, collage, and innovative sculptural forms, continually pushing the boundaries of visual representation.
TOM WESSELMANN – LITTLE PLASTIC MULTIPLE FROM THE GREAT AMERICAN NUDE SERIES (1966)
Tom Wesselmann, a pivotal figure in the Pop Art movement, is widely celebrated for his iconic Great American Nude series—provocative, stylized depictions of faceless nude women rendered in bold color and clean lines. Throughout the 1960s, Wesselmann explored a range of media including painting, drawing, collage, and innovative sculptural forms, continually pushing the boundaries of visual representation.
During this dynamic period, Wesselmann began experimenting with shaped canvases and three-dimensional media, seeking new ways to bring his sensual line work into the physical realm. One of his most striking innovations was the use of vacuum-formed plastic, a process that transformed his fluid, graphic compositions into sleek, dimensional objects. These works retained the essence of his drawings while giving them a tangible sculptural presence—an approach that aligned perfectly with the Pop Art ethos of merging fine art and mass production.
In 1966, Wesselmann created Great American Nude—a miniature plastic multiple—as a limited edition artwork for gallerist Rosa Esman’s 7 Objects in a Box, published by Tanglewood Press. This edition included 75 impressions plus 24 artist’s proofs, each housed in a custom wood crate alongside works by other leading contemporary artists.
Little Nude, 1966
Paint on molded plexiglass
From the Tom Wesselmann Catalog Raisonne
Reference number TWQLQX Registration number P661
The piece offered here is a rare and exceptionally well-preserved example of Wesselmann’s Great American Nude multiple. Unlike many surviving examples, which often exhibit wear due to the fragility of vacuum-formed plastic, this impression boasts fresh, vibrant colors and is in remarkable condition. Many extant copies are unsigned or unnumbered, making this authenticated version particularly desirable to collectors.
With its sensual curves, bright palette, and Pop-infused aesthetic, this work stands as a captivating embodiment of Wesselmann’s groundbreaking contributions to postwar American art.
#TomWesselmann Great American Nude triples estimate at $682K @Sothebys https://t.co/RDcRH30pEi pic.twitter.com/pkatHkEWgE
— Joseph K. Levene Fine Art, Ltd. (@JKLFA) November 5, 2015
