Over the River, Project for the Arkansas River, Colorado

2000

Christo

Associated Names
Christo

Artist, American, born Bulgaria, 1935 - 2020

The image includes curving contour lines at the top and long, sweeping diagonal lines below. The abstract arrangement of lines could evoke a large, fabric-like structure. There are map-like river and canyon features resembling the Rio Grande area. The scene suggests a dynamic interaction between the fabric and its environment, symbolizing a covering across the terrain.
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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    graphite, pastel, charcoal, wax crayon, photograph by Wolfgang Volz, drawn topographic contour map, and tape, on two sheets of paper in two parts

  • Credit Line

    Gift of a Private Collector in honor of Dorothy and Herbert Vogel

  • Dimensions

    sheet (top panel): 37.7 x 164.8 cm (14 13/16 x 64 7/8 in.)
    sheet (bottom panel): 106 x 164.7 cm (41 3/4 x 64 13/16 in.)
    overall size (for both panels): 147 x 165 cm (57 7/8 x 64 15/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2001.2.6.a-b

  • Copyright

    © Christo 2000

Associated Artworks

The image consists of curving lines and contour shapes resembling a topographical map. The lines weave around what looks like a winding river, suggesting geographical formations like canyons and waterways. Labeled words such as "RIO," "GRANDE," and "CANYON" indicate regions or features. The linear progression suggests the movement of a river through elevated terrain, with numbers like "6200" possibly referring to altitudes or distances.

Over the River, Project for the Arkansas River, Colorado [top panel]

Christo

2000

The image portrays a view from underneath a large, wavy, blue fabric suspended above a rocky landscape resembling a riverbed. The fabric dominates the upper half of the frame, obscuring the horizon. The lower half shows a rocky terrain with shading and texture conveyed through brushstrokes. The color palette includes deep blues and shades of gray, creating a cool atmosphere. The scene conveys a sense of vastness and abstract geometry, contrasting the fabric with the rocks below.

Over the River, Project for the Arkansas River, Colorado [bottom panel]

Christo

2000

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Private collection; gift 2001 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. 60.

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, no. 60.

Inscriptions

top panel, lower left in black wax crayon: Christo 2000; left verso of support in black crayon: (layout) (copyright) Christo 2000 / 16A / ONE WORK IN 2 ITEMS: THESE 2 ITEMS ARE / ONE WORK, THEY MUST NOT BE SEPARATED / AND BE HUNG ACCORDING TO THIS LAY OUT; bottom panel, upper left verso of support in black crayon: (layout) (copyright) Christo 2000 / 16B / ONE WORK IN 2 ITEMS: THESE 2 ITEMS ARE / ONE WORK, THEY MUST NOT BE SEPARATED / AND BE HUNG ACCORDING TO THIS LAY OUT

Wikidata ID

Q64540006

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