Louise Nevelson, World Garden Cabinet, 1959, painted wood, 57 x 11 1⁄2 x 10 1⁄2 in. (144.8 x 29.2 x 26.8 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. David K. Anderson, Martha Jackson Memorial Collection, 1980.137.83
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Artwork Details
- Title
- World Garden Cabinet
- Artist
- Date
- 1959
- Location
- Dimensions
- 57 x 11 1⁄2 x 10 1⁄2 in. (144.8 x 29.2 x 26.8 cm.)
- Credit Line
- Gift of Mr. and Mrs. David K. Anderson, Martha Jackson Memorial Collection
- Mediums
- Mediums Description
- painted wood
- Classifications
- Subjects
- Abstract
- Object Number
- 1980.137.83
Artwork Description
Louise Nevelson began making assemblages from cast-off wooden debris during the 1940s, stacking objects and boxes to create imposing walls and installations. She often painted her assemblages black, claiming that black was the "most aristocratic of all" because it contained all other colors and could never be the same twice. In World Garden Cabinet, Nevelson filled a wooden cabinet with pieces of wood, all painted black. She left some nails exposed, which emphasizes the modesty of her materials.