A Portrait of Fatherhood: 10 Prints Honoring Dad
When you think back to your childhood, consider someone who was supportive, encouraging, and who helped you make sense of the world.
Was that person a relative? A mentor? A teacher? Some of us have been blessed with great parents, so perhaps your own dad came to mind! Fatherhood comes in many forms. And Father’s Day helps us celebrate fatherhood, the influence of fathers in their children’s lives, our own experiences as fathers, and the paternal bonds we may experience with father-figures in our lives.
Though dads have (hopefully!) been celebrated within communities for as long as there have been families, and celebrated in the United States starting in 1910, Father’s Day became an official holiday in 1972, inspired by the official marking of Mother’s Day in the United States in 1908.
If you’re looking for gifts for Dad or a Father’s Day art piece, think about the activities you and your own father enjoy or enjoyed together, the colors he finds captivating, the style he finds interesting… we put together a collection here if you need a little inspiration!
10 Unique Works That Remind Us of Dad
#1. Jamming at the Savoy
Do you and Dad share a love of great music? Did you play music together? Or blast a certain album in the car on a road trip? You may enjoy the work of Romare Bearden. Bearden’s unique photo etching of jazz musicians in the 1980–81 piece, Jamming at the Savoy, conjures good times and good music.
Romare Bearden, Jamming at the Savoy, 1980–81. Baltimore Museum of Art © Romare Bearden Foundation/Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY
#2. Evening Moon Yosemite
Did your father introduce you to nature and instill a love of the great outdoors? Consider an art gift of a grand natural vista. Chiura Obata’s 1928 Evening Moon Yosemite, a unique color woodblock on paper depicting Half Dome in Yosemite National Park with a crescent moon, reminds us of the grandeur of a father’s influence.
Chiura Obata, Evening Moon: Yosemite, ca. 1928. Crocker Art Museum © Estate of Chiura Obata
#3. Hall of the Mountain King
Marsden Hartley’s 1908 Hall of the Mountain King, an oil on canvas showing rolling hills and a sweeping vista evokes the vastness of Dad’s love.
Marsden Hartley, Hall of the Mountain King, ca. 1908-1909. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
#4. Sweeping Clouds
Ed Mell’s 1989 Sweeping Clouds, an oil on canvas of the American Southwest, elicits a big sky feeling, perhaps allowing you some memories of family vacations or adventures into the unknown.
Ed Mell, Sweeping Clouds, 1989. Phoenix Art Museum © Ed Mell
#5. A Great Moment
Norman Rockwell’s 1965 poster of an Eagle Scout ceremony may remind you of that proud look Dad gave you after winning an award, or being recognized for an accomplishment. Or it may remind you of cherished times together in the great outdoors. Whether you’ve shared hikes, fishing trips, campfire stories, alpine lake plunges, or been an environmental steward with Dad, the scouts do it all.
Norman Rockwell, A Great Moment, 1965. Boy Scouts of America. Printed under license from the Boy Scouts of America. All rights reserved.
#6. Veranda
Was Dad a great partner? Did he teach you about the benefits, challenges, and love associated with companionship? A Father’s Day art piece depicting married couple dynamics may bring to mind this partnership: Alex Colville’s 1983 Veranda of a husband and wife relaxing and reading the paper on their outdoor veranda with their dog.
Alex Colville, Veranda, 1983. Private Collection © A.C.Fine Art Inc.
#7. Bird Head
Did Dad teach you about the challenges of being human? About mental health, emotional regulation, active listening, and clear communication? About the importance of trusting your intuition and your own knowledge? Mike King’s 2020 Bird Head elicits an understanding of the multiplicity of thoughts, feelings, and paradoxes involved in the human experience.
Or maybe you and Dad share a passion for great music! Mike King is the artist behind many of our favorite album covers & concert posters. We recently did an exclusive interview with him you (or Dad) may enjoy!
Mike King, Bird Head. © 2020 Mike King / Artists Rights Society
#8. Enassamishhinjijweian
Looking for a captivating Father’s Day gift? Consider gifting Dad a work of art that elicits beauty. Tom Uttech’s 2009 Enassamishhinjijweian, which is titled in Ojibwe, the language of indigenous people of the Wisconsin region, is a nearly nine-foot square oil on canvas depicting mystical natural elements. Enassamishhinjijweian translates to “hope of good things to come”.
Tom Uttech, Enassamishhinjijweian, 2009. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. © Tom Uttech, Courtesy Alexandre Gallery, New York
#9. My Father and His Dog
A man’s best friend…
Did Dad teach you to care for the family dog? Many of us may remember the hard work involved in caring for our pets and the responsibility that came with it. But the loyalty, friendship, and companionship certainly made it worth it. My Father and His Dog by Alex Colville portrays a friendship for the ages.
Alex Colville, My Father and His Dog, 1968. © A.C.Fine Art Inc.
#10. Four Ice Cream Cones
Or perhaps for a Father’s Day art gift you could give Dad a print that reminds you of the sweetness of a shared meal or special treat. Wayne Thiebaud’s 1964 oil on canvas Four Ice Cream Cones evokes warm summer days and plenty of time to play.
Wayne Thiebaud, Four Ice Cream Cones, 1964. Phoenix Art Museum.
Art © Wayne Thiebaud / Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY
Happy Father’s Day to the Papas, Dads, Fathers, Uncles, and Grandfathers, and the chosen family who show up for us no matter what!
Shopping for Dad can be tough! Check out our latest collection of favorite prints for him!