The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of May 30, 2026

A square collage drawing depicts an abstract arrangement of overlapping arcs and rectangular forms in charcoal grays. A central frame reveals a small, dark silhouette of a man. A yellowed newspaper strip curls across the bottom right, with printed text cutting through the smoky, shaded geometry. The composition shifts from dense, curved layers on the left to open, light-filled panes on the right. A handwritten signature marks the bottom right corner.

Man Reading a Newspaper

1918

Joseph Stella

(American, 1877–1946)
America
Charcoal and newspaper collage on modern laid paper
Sheet: 38.7 x 40 cm (15 1/4 x 15 3/4 in.)
Purchased with funds from the Estate of Muriel Butkin 2024.31
Location: Not on view

Did You Know?

Joseph Stella referred to his collages—such as Man Reading a Newspaper—as “natural machines.”

Description

Man Reading a Newspaper aligns with Joseph Stella’s deep interest in depicting the motion and experiences specific to the city. Amid the collage’s overlapping shapes, the artist depicted visual clues that allow his subject to be identified, including his white collar, the brim of his hat and, most significantly, a piece of newspaper affixed to the sheet. An immigrant from Italy to the United States to pursue a medical degree, Stella soon abandoned his studies in favor of a career and became part of the active vanguard scene in New York City during the early decades of the 20th century.
  • {{cite web|title=Man Reading a Newspaper|url=false|author=Joseph Stella|year=1918|access-date=30 May 2026|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2024.31