Untitled

Maker Joseph Cornell (American, 1903 - 1972)

Collections

American Art Highlights

ClassificationsCOLLAGES

Daten.d.

Mediumfiberboard panel with a black and white magazine photo of Joyce in parka partially stained orange over French, German and Dutch text pages, blue and red pencil lines, blue staining at top, right and bottom; verso covered with mailla paper stained blue mostly covered by German-Latin text page, detail of illustration of fork, knife and spoon at upper left

Dimensions12 x 9 in. (30.5 x 22.9 cm.)

SignedSigned in upper center of verso in black ink: Joseph Cornell

InscribedSigned in upper center of verso in black ink: Joseph Cornell Inscribed in upper left of verso in graphite: 12/22 [illegible ] again [illegible] Inscribed in upper center of verso in graphite: antique glass strided Inscribed in upper right of verso in graphite: in this deep blue (between these 2 [arrow below between pointing left]) as tho your heart [illegible]

Credit LineThe Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. Gift of the Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation

Label Text"Here now in sunny Eterniday I am remembering you-blessed Joyce-in a new light-the terror forgotten, for the time at least-in this golden moment."

In 1962 Cornell met Joyce Hunter, an 18-year old waitress who became the embodiment of his feminine ideal. However, their friendship ended in betrayal and tragedy. In September, 1964 Hunter was arrested for stealing nine boxes from Cornell's garage, and in December she was murdered in New York City.

Hunter's death devastated Cornell, and he memorialized her in his work. He surrounded a photograph of her with newspapers in French, German, and Dutch, perhaps suggesting that death removed her to a far-away place. To the left of her image, Cornell played on the French word "musée," or museum, by cutting off part of the second "e" so that it resembles the word "muse." On the back of the work, Cornell pasted an image of a knife, fork and spoon, referring to Hunter's job and the diner where he met her.

Status

Not on view

Object number2005.19.1

Terms