Joseph Cornell, Habitat Group for a Shooting Gallery, 1943-1
By drollgirl
An avid collector, Joseph Cornell was fascinated by remnants of once beautiful and precious objects that he discovered during his frequent visits to bookstores and thrift shops. He carefully collected and catalogued his many purchases, and utilized them to make intricately layered and constructed art boxes and collages. Cornell turned everyday throw-away materials into unique, mysterious, nostalgic treasures.
One of my favorite artists is Joseph Cornell…
[And mine as well! Through the years at the art gallery, we have both been lucky to be in the presence of many beautiful Cornell collages and boxes. You can stare at them for hours and still not see everything ~Maegan]
Here are a few of my favorite imaginatively creative boxes by Joseph Cornell…
Joseph Cornell, Canis Major constellation
Joseph Cornell, Untitled (Medici Princess), c. 1948
Joseph Cornell, Untitled (Solar Set), c. 1956-58
Joseph Cornell, Penny Arcade Portrait of Lauren Bacall- working model based upon
Joseph Cornell, Naples, 1942 AND Untitled (Bebe Marie), early 1940s
Joseph Cornell, A Parrot for Juan Gris, Winter 1953-54
Joseph Cornell, Untitled (Blue Sand Tray with Starfish), c. 1952 1952
Cornell created visual poems in which surface, form, texture, and light play together. Using things we can see, Cornell made boxes about things we cannot see: ideas, memories, fantasies, and dreams.
