On Saturday January 17 I found myself in MOMA (Museum of Modern Art) in New York City, face-to-face with Christina’s World. Andrew Wyeth, the artist, passed away just the day before in his sleep. He was 91.

Christina’s World is perhaps Andrew Wyeth’s best known work. It’s subject, Christina Olson, paralyzed from the waist down is seen dragging herself across an open field in Maine, too “dignified” to use a wheelchair. A crumbling, once proud, farmhouse sits atop a ridge against a grey sky. The painting is dark and sad.

Famous, or infamous, for his realist paintings of rural America Wyeth managed to polarize art critics and the general public, much to the same extent as his contemporary and complete opposite, another AW, Andy Warhol. Many critics shunned his work, convinced that Wyeth gave realism a bad name, and yet his many exhibitions would constantly sell out. I suppose his populism is one reason critics shunned his work; their message would otherwise be lost should they – heavens above – agree with members of the public. Though, one critic hedged his bets when surveyed about the most over-rated and most under-rated artists of recent times, by nominating Wyeth for both categories.

Interestingly enough, MOMA still only showed Wyeth’s birthdate (and not his date of departure from this world) on the wall tag next to his work. Could, rumors of Wyeth’s passing have been greatly exaggerated; misinterpreted from one of his many previous publicity stunts?