A Dossier for Joseph Cornell
Niagara Falls, NY: Lilliput Press, 1996. Artist's proof from an edition of only 10 copies. The book artist, Carol Schwartzott, writes about her work: "A book for me is like a journey; along the way the road twists and turns, and sometimes I get lost, but my aim is to arrive at my destination and enjoy the trip along the way. Curiosity, investigation, observation, objects, words or images, intuition, connections and creative application accompany me on my journey. Processes are part of the reason I choose to make books. I love the processes involved in researching, writing, designing, drawing, painting, printing, constructing and binding. Very often, one idea will lead to another, ... My books are assemblages of thoughts, much like the collages I make, layering pieces of fact and fancy, bits of memory, objects mixed and matched, all added (and sometimes subtracted) to explore a theme. It becomes an adventure in searching for connections."
This is an intricate and evocative production from Carol that pays homage to the work and thoughts of the famed visual artist Joseph Cornell (1903 - 1972). Cornell was an American visual artist and one of the pioneers and most celebrated exponents of assemblage. He was described as a premier assemblagist who elevated the box to a major art form, Joseph Cornell also was an accomplished collagist and filmmaker, and one of America's most innovative artists. His art has been described as romantic, poetic, lyrical and surrealistic. Self-taught but amazingly sophisticated, he created his first collages, box constructions and experimental films in the 1930s. By 1940, his boxes contained found materials artfully arranged, then collaged and painted to suggest poetic associations inspired by the arts, humanities and sciences.[Smithsonian American Art Museum]. Carol's book captures the qualities that informed Cornell's work and made him the major figure in the art world. In an accompanying statement about this fascinating production. She writes: "Flea markets, wandering in secondhand bookstores ...I knew someday there would be a use for all these bits and pieces...collected, sorted and organized....Listened to Schumann, Cornell's favorite music...enlightening yet gentle, and almost somber at times, I think ...perhaps like Cornell....
Carol's complex production marries quotations taken from several writings about Cornell. She attributes the texts used through footnotes and a short list of authors and works quoted. These musings and commentary are alternated with small collages assembled by Carol. Printed on Somerset Newsprint Grey. Book is enclosed in a gray handpainted box (34 x 29 cm.)--with metal hinges and closure. Top of box holds inlaid display under glass. Box opens to show the book which can be lifted out by means of a cream ribbon. Binding is of gray painted boards with exposed spine, with supports of paper and goatskin. Front cover has a painted paper title label, as well as onlays of four triangular pieces of paper-covered wood with text at corners. Text is interspersed with seven 'magic' windows (cut-out pages) which display collages, under which the artist has written in pencil a description of what it is made of. Laid in at the end on a sheet of painted paper, the artist gives some of her thoughts on making this work. In the box holding the book are an assortment of scraps of paper and other objects symbolic of Cornell's acquired and utilized items for his collages. Both are housed in a black cloth covered slipcase.In fine condition. Book measures 9.5 x 11.25 inches. Unpaginated. Fine.
Item #37875
Price: $3,000.00