Artist Monograph

Karl Free, American

Karl Free is represented by 26 works in MoMA's permanent collection, classified as american, with dated works spanning 1936–1936.

American, 1903–1947

Medium & Technique Profile

Primary media across the MoMA holdings

Medium	Works at MoMA	Share
Tempera	23	88.5%
Gouache	2	7.7%
Watercolor	1	3.8%

Technique range

Karl Free’s MoMA holdings concentrate in Tempera, with secondary engagement in Gouache, Watercolor.

Collection Distribution: MoMA & The Met

Works held at MoMA

MoMA holds a moderate group of 26 works produced between 1936 and 1936 attributed to Karl Free, representing verified accession records curated by the museum’s Department of Painting and Sculpture and sister departments.

Cultural Context & Contemporaries

National context

Karl Free is catalogued under American nationality. See the full American artists hub.

Contemporaries among American artists

16315
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
works at MoMA
3358
Louise Bourgeois
works at MoMA
2199
Ellsworth Kelly
works at MoMA
1338
Lee Friedlander
works at MoMA
932
George Maciunas
works at MoMA

Lifespan & active period

Lifespan: 1903–1947 (44 years). Artistic production is attributed within this window.

Catalogued Works

MoMA — 26 shown

Title	Date	Medium	Dimensions	Department	Credit line
Captain John Smith. Costume design for the ballet Pocahontas Drawing Acc. 508.1941.14	c. 1936	Tempera and metallic tempera on paper-faced board	14 1/2 x 9 3/4" (36.8 x 24.8 cm)	Drawings & Prints	Gift of the artist
Costume designs for the ballet Pocahontas Drawing Acc. 508.1941.1-24	c. 1936	Tempera, ink, and pencil on board	various sizes: 10 5/8 x 7 1/4 to 13 7/8 x 10 7/8" (26.5 x 18.4 to 35.3 x 27.8 cm)	Drawings & Prints	Gift of the artist
Figure. Costume design for the ballet Pocahontas Drawing Acc. 508.1941.24	c. 1936	Tempera, ink, and pencil on board	16 1/4 x 13 3/4" (41.3 x 34.9 cm)	Drawings & Prints	Gift of the artist
Fir Tree. Costume design for the ballet Pocahontas Drawing Acc. 508.1941.10	c. 1936	Tempera, ink, and pencil on board	20 x 8 1/2" (50.8 x 21.6 cm)	Drawings & Prints	Gift of the artist
First Warrior. Costume design for the ballet Pocahontas Drawing Acc. 508.1941.2	c. 1936	Tempera, ink, and pencil on board	14 3/4 x 7 1/2" (37.5 x 19.1 cm)	Drawings & Prints	Gift of the artist
Indian Girl. Costume design for the ballet Pocahontas Drawing Acc. 508.1941.4	c. 1936	Tempera and metallic tempera on paper-faced board	14 3/4 x 7 1/4" (37.5 x 18.4 cm)	Drawings & Prints	Gift of the artist
Indian Girl. Costume design for the ballet Pocahontas Drawing Acc. 508.1941.7	c. 1936	Tempera, ink, and pencil on board	14 3/4 x 7 1/2" (37.5 x 19.1 cm)	Drawings & Prints	Gift of the artist
Indian Girls with Fruits and Water Jars. Costume design for the ballet Pocahontas Drawing Acc. 508.1941.16	c. 1936	Tempera, ink, and pencil on board	10 x 15" (25.4 x 38.1 cm)	Drawings & Prints	Gift of the artist
Indian Warrior, Indian Girl, Medicine Man, Powatan[sic]. Costume designs for the ballet Pocahontas Drawing Acc. 508.1941.18	c. 1936	Gouache, watercolor, colored pencil, colored ink, and pencil on paper	12 1/2 x 18 7/8" (31.8 x 47.9 cm)	Drawings & Prints	Gift of the artist
John Rolff (1st Appearance). Costume design for the ballet Pocahontas Drawing Acc. 508.1941.9	c. 1936	Tempera, ink, and pencil on board	15 x 7 7/8" (38.1 x 20 cm)	Drawings & Prints	Gift of the artist
John Rolff. Costume design for the ballet Pocahontas Drawing Acc. 508.1941.12	c. 1936	Tempera and pencil on board	15 x 8 3/4" (38.1 x 22.2 cm)	Drawings & Prints	Gift of the artist
John Smith. Costume design for the ballet Pocahontas Drawing Acc. 508.1941.20	c. 1936	Tempera, ink, and pencil on board	10 1/8 x 7 1/4" (25.7 x 18.4 cm)	Drawings & Prints	Gift of the artist
Medicine Man. Costume design for the ballet Pocahontas Drawing Acc. 508.1941.3	c. 1936	Tempera, ink, and pencil on board	14 3/4 x 7" (37.5 x 17.8 cm)	Drawings & Prints	Gift of the artist
Paw Paw Tree. Costume design for the ballet Pocahontas Drawing Acc. 508.1941.11	c. 1936	Tempera, ink, and pencil on board	20 x 8 1/2" (50.8 x 21.6 cm)	Drawings & Prints	Gift of the artist
Pocahontas and John Smith. Costume design for the ballet Pocahontas Drawing Acc. 508.1941.22	c. 1936	Tempera, ink, and pencil on board	10 x 15" (25.4 x 38.1 cm)	Drawings & Prints	Gift of the artist
Pocahontas. Costume design for the ballet Pocahontas Drawing Acc. 508.1941.1	c. 1936	Tempera and metallic tempera on paper-faced board	15 1/8 x 7 1/4" (38.4 x 18.4 cm)	Drawings & Prints	Gift of the artist
Pocahontas. Costume design for the ballet Pocahontas Drawing Acc. 508.1941.8	c. 1936	Tempera, ink, and pencil on board	15 x 8" (38.1 x 20.3 cm)	Drawings & Prints	Gift of the artist
Pocahontas. Costume design for the ballet Pocahontas Drawing Acc. 508.1941.13	c. 1936	Tempera, ink, and pencil on board	14 3/4 x 10" (37.5 x 25.4 cm)	Drawings & Prints	Gift of the artist
Powatan. Costume design for the ballet Pocahontas Drawing Acc. 508.1941.5	c. 1936	Tempera, ink, and pencil on board	14 3/4 x 7 1/4" (37.5 x 18.4 cm)	Drawings & Prints	Gift of the artist
Sailor. Costume design for the ballet Pocahontas Drawing Acc. 508.1941.6	c. 1936	Tempera and pencil on paper-faced board	14 3/4 x 7 1/2" (37.5 x 19.1 cm)	Drawings & Prints	Gift of the artist
Study for the curtain for the ballet Pocahontas Drawing Acc. 101.1943	c. 1936	Gouache on paper-faced board	22 × 28 3/8" (55.9 × 72.1 cm)	Drawings & Prints	Gift of Lincoln Kirstein
Tree Costume for Indian Girls. Costume design for the ballet Pocahontas Drawing Acc. 508.1941.17	c. 1936	Tempera, ink, and pencil on board	14 x 11" (35.6 x 27.9 cm)	Drawings & Prints	Gift of the artist
Two Ideas for Skull Caps. Costume design for the ballet Pocahontas Drawing Acc. 508.1941.19	c. 1936	Tempera, ink, and pencil on board	10 1/8 x 7 1/4" (25.7 x 18.4 cm)	Drawings & Prints	Gift of the artist
Two Indian Men and One Indian Girl. Costume design for the ballet Pocahontas Drawing Acc. 508.1941.21	c. 1936	Tempera, ink, and pencil on board	10 x 15" (25.4 x 38.1 cm)	Drawings & Prints	Gift of the artist
Two White Men. Costume design for the ballet Pocahontas Drawing Acc. 508.1941.23	c. 1936	Gouache, ink, and pencil on board	13 7/8 x 14 3/8" (35.2 x 36.5 cm)	Drawings & Prints	Gift of the artist
Woman (front and back). Costume design for the ballet Pocahontas Drawing Acc. 508.1941.15	c. 1936	Tempera, ink, and pencil on board	10 1/2 x 15" (26.7 x 38.1 cm)	Drawings & Prints	Gift of the artist

Frequently Asked Questions

How many works by Karl Free are in MoMA?

MoMA's catalogue lists 26 works attributed to Karl Free.

What medium did Karl Free primarily work in?

Based on MoMA's holdings, Karl Free's most represented medium is Tempera.

What nationality is Karl Free?

Karl Free is catalogued as American in MoMA's Artists index.

When were Karl Free's works created?

Dated works in MoMA + Met for Karl Free span 1936 to 1936.