About this artwork
A leading figure of Pop Art, Tom Wesselmann approached contemporary American culture in terms of classical art-historical genres, like the nude and the still life. His early still-life assemblages, begun in 1962, melded painted forms with readymade objects and popular advertising images, creating a tension between the real and the depicted. A trip to a retail display manufacturer specializing in decorative objects inspired Wesselmann to have objects made in plastic from wooden molds and then painted and placed onto Formica shelves. Still Life #41 features both flat and dimensional objects. Removing identifying brands and labels, the artist emphasized the formal qualities of these purified, isolated shapes. Here the wooden facade of a 1930s table radio, a plastic half orange, and a plastic beer bottle become timeless, ironic icons.
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Status
- Currently Off View
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Department
- Contemporary Art
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Artist
- Tom Wesselmann
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Title
- Still Life #41
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Place
- United States (Artist's nationality:)
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Date
- 1964
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Medium
- Synthetic polymer paint on wood and plastic
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Dimensions
- 121.9 × 152.4 × 20.3 cm (48 × 60 × 8 in.)
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Credit Line
- Through prior gift of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Morris
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Reference Number
- 1987.279
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Copyright
- © Estate of Tom Wesselmann/Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY
Extended information about this artwork
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