Monument to Sound

Raymond Jonson, Monument to Sound, 1936, pencil on paper mounted on fiberboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the General Services Administration, 1985.65.21
Copied Raymond Jonson, Monument to Sound, 1936, pencil on paper mounted on fiberboard, sheet: 20 5⁄8 x 26 1⁄8 in. (52.4 x 66.4 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the General Services Administration, 1985.65.21

Artwork Details

Title
Monument to Sound
Artist
Date
1936
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
sheet: 20 5⁄8 x 26 1⁄8 in. (52.4 x 66.4 cm)
Credit Line
Transfer from the General Services Administration
Mediums
Mediums Description
pencil on paper mounted on fiberboard
Classifications
Subjects
  • Abstract
  • New Deal — Works Progress Administration, Federal Art Project
Object Number
1985.65.21
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1985.65.21

Artwork Description

The lines and shapes of Monument to Sound suggest an interior space where sound waves take visible form, a sanctuary for the imagination. The artist explained his dedication to abstraction based on science and spiritual values: “Around us we have realism, strife, pain, and greed. I wish to present the other side of life, namely the feeling of order, joy, and freedom. By setting up my own plastic means I can at least thrill to the attempt of establishing some fundamental principles that are universal and enduring.”

Graphic Masters II: Highlights from the Smithsonian American Art Museum, 2009