The Umbrellas, Joint Project for Japan and U.S.A. [right panel]

1991

Christo

Associated Names
Christo

Artist, American, born Bulgaria, 1935 - 2020

The image shows a plan and drawing for an art project. It includes a black and white aerial photograph of a rural landscape with topographical contour lines, marked with blue dots and numbers. Below the photograph are technical drawings with specifications and dimensions related to the project. A rectangle of blue fabric is also displayed. Handwritten notes mention a joint project between Japan and the USA in Ibaraki Prefecture, Route #349, Sato River, Nasu-shi.
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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    right panel of two parts: collage with aerial photograph with topographic contour map, technical data, fabric sample, pastel, enamel paint, graphite, colored pencil, and wax crayon on paperboard

  • Credit Line

    Dorothy and Herbert Vogel Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall: 77.5 x 30.5 cm (30 1/2 x 12 in.)
    overall size (for both panels): 77.5 x 99.7 cm (30 1/2 x 39 1/4 in.)
    framed: 78.2 x 31.3 x 4.3 cm (30 13/16 x 12 5/16 x 1 11/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1999.4.3.b

  • Copyright

    © Christo 1991

Associated Artworks

The image shows an elevated view looking down at large blue umbrellas. A green hill slopes in the background two-thirds up the image. The brushstrokes vary in texture, with broad strokes for the sky and umbrellas, and detailed strokes for the hill's foliage. The color palette consists of cool blues, greens, with hints of yellow and brown. The umbrellas are a vibrant blue with chiaroscuro effects for depth. The landscape becomes more subdued in the distance. The hill fades into a lighter, less saturated tone in the background, creating a seamless integration of the scene.

The Umbrellas, Joint Project for Japan and U.S.A. [left panel]

Christo

1991

The image is a composition of two sections. On the left, there is a main illustration of a landscape with large, blue umbrellas on a grassy area. The perspective is slightly elevated, showing the tops of the umbrellas as they recede into the distance. Beyond the umbrellas, there is a sloping hill covered in vegetation leading to the horizon. The brushstrokes are textured and expressive, particularly in the foliage and umbrella fabric. The color palette consists of blues, greens, earthy tones, and hints of white where sunlight reflects. On the right, there is a map view, blueprint, and a fabric swatch. Annotations and sketches are in black and blue, providing a detailed plan and topographical context of the left section.

The Umbrellas, Joint Project for Japan and U.S.A.

Christo

1991

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Acquired from the artist by Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Vogel, New York; gift 1999 to NGA.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

2002

  • Christo and Jeanne-Claude in the Vogel Collection, National Gallery of Art, Washington; Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego, La Jolla, 2002-2003, no. 28.

Bibliography

2002

  • Christo and Jeanne-Claude in the Vogel Collection. Exh. cat. National Gallery of Art, Washington; Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego, La Jolla, 2002-2003.

Inscriptions

lower left in black wax crayon: Christo 1991; center verso of support in black crayon: (layout) / (copyright) Christo 1991 / 193B / ONE WORK IN 2 ITEMS; THESE / 2 ITEMS ARE ONE WORK, / THEY MUST NOT BE SEPARATED / AND MUST BE HUNG / ACCORDING TO THIS LAY / OUT.

Wikidata ID

Q64539978

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