Book: The Coliseum by Piranesi #2 America, 20th century

Book: The Coliseum by Piranesi #2

1995, printed c. 1999

Abelardo Morell

(American, 1948-)

America, 20th century

Gelatin silver print

Image: 56.8 x 45.7 cm (22 3/8 x 18 in.); Paper: 60.6 x 50.7 cm (23 7/8 x 19 15/16 in.)

Gift of Tom E. Hinson and Diana S. Tittle 2022.64

Edition: Edition 10/30

Impression: 10

Location: not on view

This artwork is known to be under copyright.

Did You Know?

Born in Havana, Cuba, Abelardo Morell immigrated to the United States with his parents in 1962 at age 14.

Description

“One day in 1993,” says Abelardo Morell, “I was looking at a book of works by El Greco. As I turned a page, its surface caught light from a window at a funny angle, changing a reproduction of a painting into a shimmering distortion. What I saw wasn’t El Greco anymore, but it was a beautiful new image nonetheless. I photographed this effect and was immediately inspired to find other ways of seeing books in a new light, so to speak. . . . At times, I have been convinced that books hold all the material of life- at least the stuff that fits between an A and a Z.”