Tobey, Mark, 1890-1976, American painter, b. Centerville, Wis. An avid traveler, Tobey visited China and Japan in 1934. He then developed his celebrated "white writing," in which he attempted to symbolize the human spirit by applying principles of Eastern calligraphy to the rhythms of Western civilization. An exciting sense of motion and lyric treatment of light and color are revealed in his San Francisco Street (1941; Detroit Inst. of Arts) and Fountains of Europe (1955; Mus. of Fine Arts, Boston). In 1923, Tobey settled in the NW United States; much of his work is exhibited at the Seattle Art Museum. Transit (1948; Metropolitan Mus.) is characteristic of the East Asian influence in Tobey's art.

(born Dec. 11, 1890, Centerville, Wis., U.S.—died April 24, 1976, Basel, Switz.) U.S. painter. He studied at the Art Institute of Chicago. In 1918 he converted to the Bahā'ī religion and his work became inspired by Asian art and thought. In the 1930s he achieved notoriety with his “white writing” paintings, consisting of a web of calligraphic marks painted in white on a gray or coloured ground (e.g., Broadway, 1936), which soon displaced his representational work. His style is distinguished by his use of the small format and a refined execution in watercolour, tempera, or pastel. In the 1950s he exerted much influence abroad, especially on French Tachism.

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(born Dec. 11, 1890, Centerville, Wis., U.S.—died April 24, 1976, Basel, Switz.) U.S. painter. He studied at the Art Institute of Chicago. In 1918 he converted to the Bahā'ī religion and his work became inspired by Asian art and thought. In the 1930s he achieved notoriety with his “white writing” paintings, consisting of a web of calligraphic marks painted in white on a gray or coloured ground (e.g., Broadway, 1936), which soon displaced his representational work. His style is distinguished by his use of the small format and a refined execution in watercolour, tempera, or pastel. In the 1950s he exerted much influence abroad, especially on French Tachism.

Learn more about Tobey, Mark with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Tobey is a surname, and may refer to:

• Alton Tobey (1914–2005), American artist
• Charles W. Tobey (1880–1953), American politician from New Hampshire; U.S. Senator 1939–53
• David Tobey (1898–1988), American professional basketball referee
• Edward Silas Tobey (1813–1891), American businessman, Postmaster of Boston, president of the American Missionary Association
• Kenneth Tobey (1917–2002), American stage, film, and television actor
• Mark Tobey (1890–1976), American abstract expressionist painter
• William Tobey (b. 1959), Deputy Administrator for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation, National Nuclear Security Administration
• Paul Tobey (b. 1962), Canadian jazz pianist and composer
• Ray Tobey (b. 1965), American computer and video game programmer