Oil paint, graphite and felt on paper
Tate Collection
Works with images
General Collection
ARTIST ROOMS
National Heritage Memorial Fund
Art Fund
Collection
<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/joseph-beuys-747" aria-label="More by Joseph Beuys" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">Joseph Beuys</a>
Tails
ARTIST ROOMS
Acquired jointly with the National Galleries of Scotland through The d'Offay Donation with assistance from the National Heritage Memorial Fund and the Art Fund 2008
abstraction
animal / human
animals: birds
animals: fantastic
bird - non-specific
emotional states and conditions
emotions, concepts and ideas
felt
figure
formal qualities
from recognisable sources
gestural
miscellaneous
objects
protection - felt
symbols and personifications
paper unique oil paint graphite felt
11 September 2010 – 23 January 2011
2011-01-23
11 September 2010 – 23 January 2011
2011-01-23
2010-09-11
Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen (Düsseldorf, Germany)
2010-09-11
Joseph Beuys. Parallel Processes
Loan-out
Tails
support: 397 × 1542 mm
frame: 740 × 1887 × 50 mm
<a href="/search?gid=999999788" data-gtm-name="tombstone_link_bequest" data-gtm-destination="list-page--search-results">ARTIST ROOMS</a>
Acquired jointly with the National Galleries of Scotland through The d'Offay Donation with assistance from the <a href="/search?gid=999999967" data-gtm-name="tombstone_link_bequest" data-gtm-destination="list-page--search-results">National Heritage Memorial Fund</a> and the <a href="/search?gid=999999968" data-gtm-name="tombstone_link_bequest" data-gtm-destination="list-page--search-results">Art Fund</a> 2008
<p>Over a metre and a half in length, this drawing depicts a strange figure who is part animal, part human. The circular object on which the figure's beak rests is a piece of felt – the material with which Beuys is renowned for using extensively in his sculpture and actions. Felt is part of the artist's iconic story in which his life was saved after a plane crash when he was wrapped in layers of felt and fat. Although felt represents warmth and protection, its composition of compressed fibres or hair also refers to the human body.</p>

Online caption
2009-04-16T00:00:00
online-caption
ONLINE_CAPTION
abstraction animal / human animals: birds animals: fantastic bird - non-specific emotional states and conditions emotions, concepts and ideas felt figure formal qualities from recognisable sources gestural miscellaneous objects protection - felt symbols and personifications