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Duncan Phillips's interest in Tobey was sparked as early as 1930 when he viewed his work in the Museum of Modern Arts's "Painting and Sculpture by Living Americans" exhibition. However, Phillips did not acquire the artist’s work until 1945 when he purchased Marriage (1945). In 1955, Phillips expressed his admiration for the artist: "he is one of the best artists we have and so influential in the career of [Morris] Graves." Phillips finally acquired After the Imprint in 1962, when he held a Tobey exhibition. Apparently, Phillips viewed Tobey's works as essential counterparts to his larger group of Graves paintings. He identified their shared stylistic tendencies—restless calligraphic line and muted color—empathizing with their eternal search for a higher spiritual reality through their art.
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