Vortograph

1917

Alvin Langdon Coburn

Associated Names
Alvin Langdon Coburn

Artist, British, born United States, 1882 - 1966

The image displays overlapping circles and soft, blurred lines creating a dreamlike effect. The circular shapes resemble a camera lens or bubbles floating. Light and shadow interact within the circles, resembling glass or crystal texture. The abstract composition allows for different interpretations through its curves and light play.
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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    gelatin silver print

  • Credit Line

    Patrons' Permanent Fund

  • Dimensions

    image: 26.67 × 20.96 cm (10 1/2 × 8 1/4 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2003.120.1

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

The artist; by gift to Leonard Arundale and wife; by descent to his grandchild; (sale, Christie's, London, 21 May 2003, no. 122); (Charles Isaacs Photographs, Malvern, PA, Robert Hershkowitz, Sussex, England; Edwynn Houk, New York; Hans P. Kraus, Jr., Inc., New York); NGA purchase, 2003.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

2012

  • Inventing Abstraction, 1910-1925. How a Radical Idea Changed Modern Art., The Museum of Modern Art, New York, 2012 - 2013, unnumbered catalogue.

2015

  • In Light of the Past: Celebrating Twenty-Five Years of Collecting Photographs at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, May 3 – July 26, 2015

Wikidata ID

Q64073863

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