Abstract Man

Louis Schanker, Abstract Man, 1936, carved and painted wood, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Patricia and Phillip Frost, 1986.92.80
Copied Louis Schanker, Abstract Man, 1936, carved and painted wood, 22 x 4 3⁄4 x 5 in. (55.9 x 12.2 x 12.7 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Patricia and Phillip Frost, 1986.92.80

Artwork Details

Title
Abstract Man
Artist
Date
1936
Location
Dimensions
22 x 4 3⁄4 x 5 in. (55.9 x 12.2 x 12.7 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of Patricia and Phillip Frost
Mediums
Mediums Description
carved and painted wood
Classifications
Subjects
  • Figure male
  • Abstract
Object Number
1986.92.80
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1986.92.80

Artwork Description

Abstract Man was carved during the 1930s, when Louis Schanker first began combining abstract shapes with figurative forms. The piece makes a connection between his graphic work and his carved sculptures. He translated the spirals, curves, and geometric shapes of his woodcuts into three dimensions, creating a figure that evokes a primitive statue or a totem.