“Perhaps the only goal on earth toward which mankind is striving lies in the process of attaining, in other words, in life itself, and not in the thing to be attained.” – Fyodor Dostoevsky, Notes from Underground, 1864. From the series Great Ideas of 

Reginald Pollack, "Perhaps the only goal on earth toward which mankind is striving lies in the process of attaining, in other words, in life itself, and not in the thing to be attained."--Fyodor Dostoevsky, Notes from Underground, 1864. From the series Great Ideas of Western Man., 1963, oil, ink and colored pencil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Container Corporation of America, 1984.124.239
Reginald Pollack, "Perhaps the only goal on earth toward which mankind is striving lies in the process of attaining, in other words, in life itself, and not in the thing to be attained."--Fyodor Dostoevsky, Notes from Underground, 1864. From the series Great Ideas of , 1963, oil, ink and colored pencil on canvas, 20 1⁄8 x 25 7⁄8 in. (51.2 x 65.6 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Container Corporation of America, 1984.124.239

Artwork Details

Title
“Perhaps the only goal on earth toward which mankind is striving lies in the process of attaining, in other words, in life itself, and not in the thing to be attained.” – Fyodor Dostoevsky, Notes from Underground, 1864. From the series Great Ideas of Western Man.
Artist
Date
1963
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
20 1⁄8 x 25 7⁄8 in. (51.2 x 65.6 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of Container Corporation of America
Mediums
Mediums Description
oil, ink and colored pencil on canvas
Classifications
Subjects
  • Figure group
  • Allegory — life — humanity
  • Object — art object — painting
  • Object — art tool — easel
Object Number
1984.124.239
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1984.124.239

Works by this artist (1 item)

Bill Hilgendorf, Jason Horvath, Uhuru, Cyclone Lounger, 2010, reclaimed Coney Island boardwalk (various woods) and powder-coated steel, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Bill Hilgendorf and Jason Horvath in memory of Cynthia Bricker Hilgendorf; Gift of Fern Bleckner in celebration of Etta B. Brown's ninety-fifth birthday; and Gift of Shirley Jacobs in honor of the fortieth anniversary of the Renwick Gallery, 2013.7, © 2010, Uhuru
Cyclone Lounger
Artist
Date2010
reclaimed Coney Island boardwalk (various woods) and powder-coated steel
Not on view

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Arthropod Side Table
Artist
Date2011
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With You in a Moment
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