Marylin, the Trapeze Artist

Frank Gray

National Gallery of Art

The image shows a marionette figure positioned upside down with its head toward the ground, suspended by strings attached to its hands and feet. The puppet is manipulated to hang in a gymnast-like pose with a wooden bar between its legs. The marionette has exaggerated facial features, rosy cheeks, black hair tied with a blue ribbon, and is dressed in colorful, patterned clothing. Two smaller marionettes are in the top left corner; one sits on a red and white striped sphere, and the other sits on a brown swing. The background is plain, and the artist's signature, "Frank H. Bay," is visible in the bottom right corner.