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William
Michael Harnett, The Old Violin, 1886, National Gallery
of Art, Washington, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Mellon Scaife in
honor of Paul Mellon 1993.15.1 |
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Harnett
positioned each element in The Old Violin to achieve a precise balance.
For example, while the violin hangs slightly off-center, the hinges are
bent to frame it perfectly within the overall composition. The instrument
bisects the angled sheet music, and the blue envelope echoes the music's
tilt. The violin bow lines up exactly with one of the door slats; the news
clipping, placed like an exhibition label for the violin, further stabilizes
the work.

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