The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 19, 2024

Video

Video

c.1955–1963
(American, 1903–1972)
America, 20th century
wood, glass and found objects
Framed: 25 x 37 x 9.5 cm (9 13/16 x 14 9/16 x 3 3/4 in.); Overall: 24.8 x 36.9 x 9.2 cm (9 3/4 x 14 1/2 x 3 5/8 in.)
Contemporary Collection of The Cleveland Museum of Art 1964.143
© The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation / Licensed by VAGA at Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY
Location: not on view

Did You Know?

The poet Charles Simic described Cornell's boxes as "dreams in which objects are renamed and invested with imaginary lives."

Description

Cornell devoted much of his life to assembling glass-fronted boxes of objects and printed material that he found or acquired from second-hand shops and bookstores. By virtue of their unexpected juxtapositions, the artist’s arrangements generate poetic associations. In this example, the cork balls, metal ring, black disk, and constellation diagram evoke the structure and mysteries of the universe. The meaning behind the title of the work remains elusive, perhaps as Cornell intended.
  • The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1966. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1966. Reproduced: p. 201 archive.org
    The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1969. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1969. Reproduced: p. 201 archive.org
    The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1978. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1978. Reproduced: p. 252 archive.org
  • Object Lessons: Cleveland Creates an Art Museum. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (June 7-September 8, 1991).
    Materials and Techniques of 20th-Century Artists. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (November 17, 1976-January 2, 1977).
    CMA 1976: "Materials and Techniques of 20th Century Artists," cat. no. 8, reproduced p. 13
    Year in Review (1964). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (December 8, 1964-January 31, 1965).
    CMA 1964: "Year in Review," CMA Bulletin, listed no. 155
  • {{cite web|title=Video|url=false|author=Joseph Cornell|year=c.1955–1963|access-date=19 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1964.143