This catalogue is published in conjunction with "Birds of a Feather: Joseph Cornell's Homage to Juan Gris," on view at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, from January 23 through April 15, 2018. Includes bibliographical references.
Summary:
Joseph Cornell first viewed Cubist painter Juan Gris's The Man at the Cafe in October 1953. This visual encounter prompted Cornell to create more than a dozen hand-constructed shadow boxes as homages to Gris, each featuring a variation on a motif that echoes formal elements in Gris's painting. This unique book explores Cornell's deep fascination with Gris, uncovering within Cornell's work multiple allusions to Gris's crucial influence and investigating cross-currents such as the artists' shared interests in French culture and the ballet. Birds of a Feather yields a new perspective on Cornell's famed boxes while also shedding light on Gris's painting, establishing points of connection between two key figures of the avant-garde who lived a generation apart.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.