HENRY DARGER | recto: At Cedernine. Vivian girls ... battle, but refuse to leave the fieldverso: At Anna Miria. One of the Vivian girls Violet takes up afternoon sentry duty and frustrates a number of Glandelinian sharp shooters be her own swift and good accuracy of shooting

Acquired directly from the artist by the present owner

This double-sided work is in very good condition overall. There is evidence of wear and handling to the edges including creases, small tears and losses, consistent with the artist's working method and the environment in which the work was discovered. The surface is slightly soiled and stained, consistent with the artist's working method. All collaged elements are stable and intact. There are areas of scattered discoloration throughout, inherent to the artist's chosen adhesive, particularly on the recto near the center of the top edge and the upper right corner. There are several small tears along the bottom of the sheet, which have benefited from stabilization. The colors are bright and fresh. The sheet is hinged with string intermittently along the edges. Framed under Plexiglas.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The American Civil War was a major influence in Darger's life.  As an early adolescent he was fascinated by the various battles, causalities and armament.  The first side of this dual work depicts the frantic Cedernine battle. The Angelinnian forces are firing artillery upon the Glandelinian army while their flank is attacked by Glandelinians.  The Vivian girls stand oblivious to the carnage about them.  Darger appears to have enjoyed the tension and anxiety that such a scene delivers to the viewer. The obverse side depicts Violet, a Vivian girl, shooting the barbarous Glandelinians soldiers.  Darger portrays the Glandelinians in his watercolor paintings of The Realms as wearing grey uniforms and mortar board caps. The uniform has direct correlation with the Confederate uniforms he was familiar with.  Violet is rendered as a very innocent young girl, yet the painting's written description and depiction of dead and dying soldiers belies this innocence.  Darger certainly had the capacity to have selected a more menacing Violet, but chose to instill an uncomfortable anxiety in the picture, which is a reoccurring theme in many of his paintings and was likely a place he appears to have lived himself.