Recycling Picture (Around the World)c. 1991Sheet: 22 1/2 x 30 " (57.1 x 76.2 cm)Watercolor, charcoal, graphite on Lanaquarelle paperGift of T. Marshall Hahn Jr.1996.17.311537862337Thornton Dial Sr.DrawingsCopyright for this work is under review. center verso: 'Recycling Picture / (Around the World)'lower right: 'TD'http://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster26676http://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster12763http://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster11779http://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster11315BessemerBessemerUnited StatesAlabamaWorks on PaperAdam ReichBessemerDiscussion with Paul Arnett, February 11, 2026: Paul Arnett says that most of Dial’s drawings are dated. It was likely an oversight that this drawing was not—it was part of their regular inventory process with his father. Looking at other similar drawings by Dial, we estimate that it would have been created around 1991—Paul also confirmed. He said that starting in 1993, Dial used “printmaking paper” instead of Lanaquarelle watercolor paper. The “printmaking paper” suited better (for its softness) to his increased use of various media (oil and dry pastels, graphite) on the paper surface, and his gradual ceasing of the use of watercolor.donor provided 1996 in filesTitle recorded on verso. Source: Valérie Rousseau, discussion with Paul Arnett, February 11, 2026: "Woman with Tiger" was not a title given by Dial himself. It was likely provided by the donor in 1996, based on his observations of the work. Paul Arnett affirms that it is too generic and would be out of the ordinary. Additionally, while Dial might have used the word “woman,” he would have preferred the word “lady” to describe feminine figures in his drawings.Dial always titled his drawings. The titling process was recorded in-person with the artist, compiled by William Arnett, with or without the participation of his son, Paul. A typical titling process would be achieved when Arnett came to pick-up a certain number of works. They would sit together and go through each work. Dial would dictate the title and either William (mainly) and Paul (not as often) would inscribe it on the back of the work, with the date of creation. According to Paul, Dial always relied on another person to inscribe these titles, as he was not at ease of writing them himself, because of his literacy level.The handwritten title found on the back of this work is Recycling Picture (Around the World). The handwriting is from either William or Paul. About the meaning of this work, Paul said that it was not systematically discussed with the artist during the inventory process. In his view, “Recycling” might allude to the large number of circular elements on the work—“cycling” in its relationship to “cycles” and not the contemporary usage of collecting, sorting, cleaning, and processing materials.This work is created on Lanaquarelle watercolor paper. Paul Arnett explained that Dial liked a lot to work with this paper stock with softer grain, but it became increasingly difficult to find it. This paper stock was mail ordered to him. The logo of the paper company—visible on the back of the work, on lower right—is the brand “Lanaquarelle.” [described in these terms online: “This is the jewel in the crown of the range. Our master papermakers manufacture this acid free 100% cotton rag watercolor paper in the old-fashioned way, adhering strictly to traditional techniques. Manufactured on a cylinder mold and surface sized, working with this paper makes every watercolor moment a real pleasure.”]Object information is a work in progress and
may be updated with new research. Records are reviewed and revised, and the
American Folk Art Museum welcomes additional information.
To help improve this record, please email photoservices@folkartmuseum.orgsee Souls Grown Deep website for portions taken from interviews with the artist and William Arnett in 1995 and 1996"People say I make all my art about tigers, but I got tigers in just some of it. Women be in just about everything I have made, in one way or another. That tiger to me symbolized the Struggle, in the works of life, but women are the creation of the world, at the creation of all works. If it wasn't for women it wouldn't be none of us here, and without them we couldn't make it through the struggle. Man do a lot of struggling–that's true–but without women giving the power and strength of their struggle to man's struggle, man going to lose his struggle"https://www.soulsgrowndeep.org/artist/thornton-dial#qt-thornton_dial_gallery-ui-tabs3 http://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster26676http://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster12763http://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster11779http://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster11315http://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster26676http://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster12763http://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster11779http://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster11315http://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster26676http://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster12763http://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster11779http://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster1131519861996 1996 17 3 Discussion with Paul Arnett, February 11, 2026: Paul Arnett says that most of Dial’s drawings are dated. It was likely an oversight that this drawing was not—it was part of their regular inventory process with his father. Looking at other similar drawings by Dial, we estimate that it would have been created around 1991—Paul also confirmed. He said that starting in 1993, Dial used “printmaking paper” instead of Lanaquarelle watercolor paper. The “printmaking paper” suited better (for its softness) to his increased use of various media (oil and dry pastels, graphite) on the paper surface, and his gradual ceasing of the use of watercolor.donor provided 1996 in filesTitle recorded on verso. Source: Valérie Rousseau, discussion with Paul Arnett, February 11, 2026: "Woman with Tiger" was not a title given by Dial himself. It was likely provided by the donor in 1996, based on his observations of the work. Paul Arnett affirms that it is too generic and would be out of the ordinary. Additionally, while Dial might have used the word “woman,” he would have preferred the word “lady” to describe feminine figures in his drawings.Dial always titled his drawings. The titling process was recorded in-person with the artist, compiled by William Arnett, with or without the participation of his son, Paul. A typical titling process would be achieved when Arnett came to pick-up a certain number of works. They would sit together and go through each work. Dial would dictate the title and either William (mainly) and Paul (not as often) would inscribe it on the back of the work, with the date of creation. According to Paul, Dial always relied on another person to inscribe these titles, as he was not at ease of writing them himself, because of his literacy level.The handwritten title found on the back of this work is Recycling Picture (Around the World). The handwriting is from either William or Paul. About the meaning of this work, Paul said that it was not systematically discussed with the artist during the inventory process. In his view, “Recycling” might allude to the large number of circular elements on the work—“cycling” in its relationship to “cycles” and not the contemporary usage of collecting, sorting, cleaning, and processing materials.This work is created on Lanaquarelle watercolor paper. Paul Arnett explained that Dial liked a lot to work with this paper stock with softer grain, but it became increasingly difficult to find it. This paper stock was mail ordered to him. The logo of the paper company—visible on the back of the work, on lower right—is the brand “Lanaquarelle.” [described in these terms online: “This is the jewel in the crown of the range. Our master papermakers manufacture this acid free 100% cotton rag watercolor paper in the old-fashioned way, adhering strictly to traditional techniques. Manufactured on a cylinder mold and surface sized, working with this paper makes every watercolor moment a real pleasure.”]Object information is a work in progress and
may be updated with new research. Records are reviewed and revised, and the
American Folk Art Museum welcomes additional information.
To help improve this record, please email photoservices@folkartmuseum.orgsee Souls Grown Deep website for portions taken from interviews with the artist and William Arnett in 1995 and 1996"People say I make all my art about tigers, but I got tigers in just some of it. Women be in just about everything I have made, in one way or another. That tiger to me symbolized the Struggle, in the works of life, but women are the creation of the world, at the creation of all works. If it wasn't for women it wouldn't be none of us here, and without them we couldn't make it through the struggle. Man do a lot of struggling–that's true–but without women giving the power and strength of their struggle to man's struggle, man going to lose his struggle"https://www.soulsgrowndeep.org/artist/thornton-dial#qt-thornton_dial_gallery-ui-tabs3