Joseph Cornell - Sand Fountain (c. 1955-57) Flashcards
1
Q
Joseph Cornell’s birthdate and birth place
A
Nyath, New York.
1903-1972
2
Q
Cornell’s education
A
Self-taught.
3
Q
Cornell’s influences
A
Marcel Duchamp, “white magic” surrealism (rejects the violent and erotic aspects of the movement)
4
Q
What is Cornell best known for?
A
Assemblages or “shadow boxes”
5
Q
What do Cornell’s assemblages consist of?
A
Found materials from thrift shops and fragments of “once beautiful objects.”
6
Q
What is the effect of Cornell’s assemblages?
A
There’s a nostalgic component. The objects must be understood for their poetic connotation
7
Q
How is the Surrealist influence apparent in Cornell’s work?
A
- The unexpected juxtaposition of the objects in the shadow box.
- The emphasis on the symbolic
8
Q
Key facts about Cornell’s life
A
- Extremely reclusive and bashful
- Took care of his brother with cerebral palsy
