Joseph Cornell

American, 1903 - 1972

American sculptor, assemblagist, and filmmaker Joseph Cornell was one of the first modernist artists to use found objects as his materials. Cornell was born in 1903 in Nyack, New York, and spent much of his life in New York City’s Flushing neighborhood.

Cornell collected objects on frequent visits to Manhattan bookshops, antique stores, and flea markets. In his basement studio, he used these materials to make shadow boxes, glass-fronted containers that often evoke tiny, fantastical realms. Cornell developed this art form, which influenced artists from Marcel Duchamp and Jasper Johns to Yayoi Kusama.

With the donation of the Robert and Aimee Lehrman Collection of 20 boxes and seven collages, the National Gallery is one of the world's leading centers for the study and appreciation of Cornell's art.

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Joseph Cornell, Les constellations voisines du pôle, 1961, construction, Robert and Jane Meyerhoff Collection, 1991.218.2

Les constellations voisines du pôle

Joseph Cornell · 1961 · construction ·  Accession ID  1991.218.2

The sculpture appears to be a shadowbox featuring several images and objects. The back wall of the box is mostly occupied by a blue-tinted image of a man in a dark suit with a high ruffled collar, surrounded by a thin white border. There appear to be transparent vertical slats over the image, creating a grid pattern. On the left and right, this same image appears to have been reproduced multiple times in a much smaller size, with these smaller images stacked to form vertical columns. There is a horizontal glass shelf towards the bottom of the box, and on it rests a small orange spherical object. Below this shelf, on the bottom of the box, is a larger purple spherical object. These images and objects are surrounded by a dark brown frame carved with thin lines.
Joseph Cornell, Untitled (Medici Prince), c. 1953, construction, Gift of the Collectors Committee, 1982.54.1

Untitled (Medici Prince)

Joseph Cornell · c. 1953 · construction ·  Accession ID  1982.54.1

The sculpture is a three-dimensional piece enclosed in a box-like frame with textured sides covered in printed text. Inside, there is a small, abstract setting resembling a miniature room or alcove with a cracked, white-painted backdrop. At the bottom of the scene, a mound of yellow sand partially fills the space, with some collected in an overturned, broken glass near the base. Above, a hole in the upper white section releases a thin flow of yellow sand that trickles down to join the pile below. The materials used include wood, paint, glass, and sand, creating a visually layered and textured appearance. The sculpture presents a contained, abstract environment with elements evoking time and decay, while its small scale gives it an intimate feel.
Joseph Cornell, Sand Fountain, 1948, construction, Robert and Jane Meyerhoff Collection, 1991.218.1

Sand Fountain

Joseph Cornell · 1948 · construction ·  Accession ID  1991.218.1

This is a photograph of a decorative pipe and smoke motif. It features a meerschaum pipe with a wooden stem positioned horizontally against a dark background. Translucent circles resembling smoke rings emerge from the bowl of the pipe, each containing unique, abstract shapes. The shapes suggest organic forms and create a floating effect above the pipe. The image is framed in a simple wooden frame, giving it a clean presentation.
Joseph Cornell, Object (Soap Bubble Set), 1941, box construction (black eglomise border with black velvet), Collection of Robert and Aimee Lehrman, Washington, D.C., in honor of Charlotte Lehrman, 2023.124.15

Object (Soap Bubble Set)

Joseph Cornell · 1941 · box construction (black eglomise border with black velvet) ·  Accession ID  2023.124.15

This is a painting depicting a group of figures and animals in historical attire in an outdoor setting. The image shows detailed figures in motion against a landscape backdrop. The background is a contrasting blue. A speech bubble with French text is included in the painting.
Joseph Cornell, Object (Abeilles) (Bees), 1940, box construction, Collection of Robert and Aimee Lehrman, Washington, D.C., in honor of Jason Lehrman, 2023.124.14

Object (Abeilles) (Bees)

Joseph Cornell · 1940 · box construction ·  Accession ID  2023.124.14

This is a photograph of a collection of small glass bottles with red lids inside a wooden box. The box is open and displays two rows of bottles inserted into round slots. Each bottle contains different objects, which vary from natural materials to crafted pieces such as miniature models or colored substances. The wooden box has a rustic look with a hinged lid, and the bottles are arranged neatly in its interior. Additional bottles are positioned in front of the box, offering a closer view of their varied contents.
Joseph Cornell, Untitled (Museum), c. 1940-1950, box construction, Collection of Robert and Aimee Lehrman, Washington, D.C., in honor of Isabelle Scott and Heidi Berry, 2023.124.22

Untitled (Museum)

Joseph Cornell · c. 1940-1950 · box construction ·  Accession ID  2023.124.22

This is a wooden box with red sand, driftwood, and small white objects inside. The box has a wooden frame and a glass front. Inside, there is a piece of driftwood on red sand, with small white objects scattered in front.
Joseph Cornell, Untitled (Red Sand Box), c. 1940, box construction, Collection of Robert and Aimee Lehrman, Washington, D.C., in honor of Rebecca Windschitl, 2023.124.25

Untitled (Red Sand Box)

Joseph Cornell · c. 1940 · box construction ·  Accession ID  2023.124.25

This abstract composition features intersecting lines and circles on a textured blue and brown background. In the center is an image resembling a person in historical attire, with smaller repetitive depictions surrounding it. The text "Hôtel du Nord" and "L'Abeille" are seen at the top of the image.
Joseph Cornell, Styria Studio, Brooke Alexander, Inc., Untitled (Hotel du Nord), 1972, color screenprint, Anonymous Gift, 1982.92.9

Untitled (Hotel du Nord)

Joseph Cornell, Styria Studio, Brooke Alexander, Inc. · 1972 · color screenprint ·  Accession ID  1982.92.9

The image shows geometric shapes and lines arranged on a blue backdrop. There is a cone shape, a cylinder, a large orange circle emitting light, and three cubic structures aligned horizontally in the foreground. Above them, there is a black rectangle containing an abstract diagram resembling a solar system.
Joseph Cornell, Styria Studio, Brooke Alexander, Inc., Untitled (How to Make a Rainbow), 1972, color screenprint, Gift of the Woodward Foundation, Washington, D.C., 1976.56.13

Untitled (How to Make a Rainbow)

Joseph Cornell, Styria Studio, Brooke Alexander, Inc. · 1972 · color screenprint ·  Accession ID  1976.56.13

This is a painting featuring a sketch, text, and geometric patterns. The artwork includes a monochromatic sketch of a figure in profile against a textured blue background. Surrounding the figure are elements such as lines, circles, and text pieces like "Hôtel du Nord" and "L’ABEILLE". On the borders are smaller, repetitive photographs or prints in muted tones. This creates a layered and textured piece in the style of Robert Rauschenberg.
Joseph Cornell, Styria Studio, Brooke Alexander, Inc., Untitled (Hotel du Nord), 1972, color screenprint, Gift of the Woodward Foundation, Washington, D.C., 1976.56.10

Untitled (Hotel du Nord)

Joseph Cornell, Styria Studio, Brooke Alexander, Inc. · 1972 · color screenprint ·  Accession ID  1976.56.10