Rudolph Dirks and The Fledglings
-
National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC
Free
Tom Crouch
Join senior curator Tom Crouch as he discusses The Fledglings, a 1908 painting by Rudolph Dirks. Dirks, who created the popular comic strip Katzenjammer Kids, visited a pioneer air meet at Morris Park, in the Bronx, in the fall of 1908. He was so enthused by what he saw that he rushed back to his Manhattan studio and produced this 1.8-meter (6-foot) long oil providing an overview of the meet. The focus is on the people, and the excitement of the day. The dozens of figures in the painting look for all the work as if they had stepped out of the comic strips. Still, Dirks was a serious painter, who exhibited at the famous 1913 Armory show that launched modern art in the U.S. The painting will eventually be going on display in the Early Flight Gallery, but for this talk, Crouch will pin up a full-size image of the work, and give a PowerPoint presentation on the painting and the painter.
The Ask An Expert lecture series at the National Mall building is presented every Wednesday at noon. A Museum staff member talks to the public about the history, collection, or personalities related to a specific artifact or exhibition in the Museum.
How to attend
National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC
650 Jefferson Drive SW. Washington, DC 20560
We rely on the generous support of donors, sponsors, members, and other benefactors to share the history and impact of aviation and spaceflight, educate the public, and inspire future generations. With your help, we can continue to preserve and safeguard the world’s most comprehensive collection of artifacts representing the great achievements of flight and space exploration.
Support the Museum
We rely on the generous support of donors, sponsors, members, and other benefactors to share the history and impact of aviation and spaceflight, educate the public, and inspire future generations. With your help, we can continue to preserve and safeguard the world’s most comprehensive collection of artifacts representing the great achievements of flight and space exploration.