Obsession

Ronna Neuenschwander, Obsession, 1998, painted and sawdust-fired earthenware with terra sigillata, cut and formed tin, and teeth, 16 1⁄2 x 15 x 13 1⁄2 in. (41.9 x 38.1 x 34.3 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Howard Kottler Endowment for Ceramic Art, 1998.136

Artwork Details

Title
Obsession
Artist
Date
1998
Location
Dimensions
16 1⁄2 x 15 x 13 1⁄2 in. (41.9 x 38.1 x 34.3 cm)
Credit Line
Museum purchase through the Howard Kottler Endowment for Ceramic Art
Mediums
Mediums Description
painted and sawdust-fired earthenware with terra sigillata, cut and formed tin, and teeth
Classifications
Subjects
  • African American
  • Figure male — full length
  • State of being — illness — insanity
Object Number
1998.136
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1998.136

Artwork Description

Ronna Neuenschwander’s sculptures of the human figure tell the stories of the people of Mali. In Obsession, a man is biting into his wrist while stretching away from his other hand, which is withered and small. This obvious reference to hunger contrasts with the garish collage of food labels that make up the figure’s outfit. In this way, the artist calls attention to the abundance that Westerners take for granted.

Works by this artist (3 items)

Image Not Available
Abstract II (The Pumpkin Queen and Her Kingdom)
Artist
Date1976
felt-tipped pen and ink on paperboard
Not on view
Norman Scott ("Butch") Quinn, Ring-Neck Attacked by a Hawk, ca. 1977, felt-tipped pen and ink on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Dr. Frederick Quinn, 1986.24
Ring-Neck Attacked by a Hawk
Artist
Dateca. 1977
felt-tipped pen and ink on paperboard
Not on view
Norman Scott ("Butch") Quinn, Electric Fishes, 1974, felt-tipped pen and ink on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Charles Lowell Marlin and James Alan Hollingsworth, 1986.35.2
Electric Fishes
Artist
Date1974
felt-tipped pen and ink on paperboard
Not on view

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Untitled (Building with Recessed Entrance and Black…
Artist
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Bus
Artist
Dateca. 1992
ink on manila envelope
Not on view
William H. Johnson, Standing Female Nude, ca. 1939-1940, recto: pen and ink on paper verso: pen and ink and ink wash on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.205R-V
Standing Female Nude
Artist
Dateca. 1939-1940
recto: pen and ink on paper verso: pen and ink and ink wash on paper
Not on view
Image Not Available
Squirrels
Artist
Date1962
ink and ink wash with hand coloring
Not on view