Abstract Man

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: Louis Schanker
Date: 1936
Location: Smithsonian American Art Museum
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Luce Foundation Center
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4th Floor
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49B
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: paint
applewood
Mediums Description: carved and painted wood
Classifications: Sculpture
Subjects: Abstract
Figure male
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.