Untitled (Brick Facade)

1965-1970

Joseph Cornell

Associated Names
Joseph Cornell

Artist, American, 1903 - 1972

This is a painting of an architectural scene with a surrealistic element. The artwork features a cloudy sky within a dark frame that suggests a window or niche. The surrounding area resembles a dark surface resembling a brick wall, showing the texture of bricks and an arch shape. The window-like shape contrasts the dark, muted tones of the wall with the vivid blues and whites of the cloud-filled sky. The style is reminiscent of René Magritte, playing with the perception of inside and outside, reality and illusion, drawing attention to the concept of a window as both a barrier and a gateway.
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Artwork overview


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

the artist, New York; Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation, Keswick, Virginia, 1972; Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, 2005; acquired 2015 by the National Gallery of Art

Associated Names

Exhibition History

2006

  • Redefined: Modern and Contemporary Art from the Collection, Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, 2006

Inscriptions

lower center verso in black ink: Joseph Cornell

Markings

typed lower center verso on adhered label: cornell.

Wikidata ID

Q64591130

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