“What man’s mind can create, man’s character can control.” – Thomas Alva Edison, 1847 – 1931. From the series Great Ideas of Western Man.

Ben Sakoguchi, "What man's mind can create, man's character can control."--Thomas Alva Edison, 1847-1931. From the series Great Ideas of Western Man., 1965, intaglio on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Container Corporation of America, 1984.124.255
Ben Sakoguchi, "What man's mind can create, man's character can control."--Thomas Alva Edison, 1847-1931. From the series Great Ideas of Western Man., 1965, intaglio on paper, plate: 35 5⁄8 x 23 7⁄8 in. (90.5 x 60.5 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Container Corporation of America, 1984.124.255

Artwork Details

Title
“What man’s mind can create, man’s character can control.” – Thomas Alva Edison, 1847 – 1931. From the series Great Ideas of Western Man.
Artist
Date
1965
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
plate: 35 5⁄8 x 23 7⁄8 in. (90.5 x 60.5 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Container Corporation of America
Mediums Description
intaglio on paper
Classifications
Subjects
  • Landscape — imaginary
  • Figure — child — bust
  • Allegory — quality — temperance
  • Object — other — light bulb
  • State of being — phenomenon — dream
  • Figure — fragment — hand
Object Number
1984.124.255
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1984.124.255

Works by this artist (1 item)

Richard Ford, Uncle Rick's Wonderland, 1997, carved and painted poplar with mirror, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Leo Kaplan Modern, 2000.103
Uncle Rick’s Wonderland
Artist
Date1997
carved and painted poplar with mirror
Not on view

More Artworks from the Collection

Browse All Artworks
Sam Maloof, Pedestal Table, 1992, fiddleback maple, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Sam and Alfreda Maloof, 1992.105
Pedestal Table
Artist
Date1992
fiddleback maple
Not on view
Garry Knox Bennett, Boston Kneehole, 1989, Honduras rosewood, maple, aluminum, brick, Fountainhead, Colorcore, antiqued bronze, and watercolor, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Anne and Ronald Abramson, the James Renwick Alliance and museum purchase through the Smithsonian Institution Collections Acquisition Program, 1990.104, © 1989, Gary Knox Bennett
Boston Kneehole
Artist
Date1989
Honduras rosewood, maple, aluminum, brick, Fountainhead, Colorcore, antiqued bronze, and watercolor
Not on view
Stephen Courtney, Secretarial Desk, 1998, lathe-turned and hand-fabricated maple, copper leaf, copper-plated cast bronze, glass, leather and golf tees, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Mortenson Family Foundation, LLC, Madison, Wisconsin, 2003.54, © 1998, Stephen Courtney
Secretarial Desk
Artist
Date1998
lathe-turned and hand-fabricated maple, copper leaf, copper-plated cast bronze, glass, leather and golf tees
Not on view
Jane Byrd McCall Whitehead, Unidentified (American), Byrdcliffe Oak Chiffonier, 1904, oak, stain and oil paint, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Jill and Mark Willcox, Jr., 2005.33
Byrdcliffe Oak Chiffonier
Artist
Unidentified (American)
Attributed to Jane Byrd McCall Whitehead
Date1904
oak, stain and oil paint
Not on view