The Gift is recorded by Indiana in a journal entry dated November 28, 1959, with a note indicating that it was painted in cadmium red medium on canvas. The hard-edge, geometric form is the shadow or silhouette of a wooden easel, given to Indiana by Ellsworth Kelly (the “gift” of the title). This easel would remain in Indiana’s home and/or studio for decades to come.
In 2002, Indiana would return to the image of The Gift, painting New Easel, a 77 x 51 inch canvas which adapts the image to a vertical canvas.