Lynda Zycherman, MoMa’s sculpture conservator, is preparing the newest addition to the museum’s collections. Some might brush this news of as of nothing out of the ordinary, but that’s no where near the case. This new “Picasso Sculpture” portrays some of the most, “breathtaking inventiveness in bronze, wood, clay, plaster, sheet metal and stones through six decades” according to Roberta Smith in her Article, “Drinking in the Beauty of Picasso’s Sculptures at MoMa.”
In this Article, Zycherman seems to have a deep appreciation of what the conservators do. She mentions that part of their jobs is to do investigative work on the art pieces, discovering new knowledge about them that could be disclosed to the public. Zycherman goes on to describe the intimacy of this work, and just how much goes into discovering new things; even comparing it to “CSI” work.
Something that surprised me was that Zycherman mentioned that “much of our nonverbal response to art is really to the artist’s use of materials.” I’ve never actually thought of art that way but now I’m realizing its more of a subconscious reaction. These subliminal thoughts affect the way we think about art pieces, even when we think we are looking at the artwork with an open mind; so many things can be overlooked.
“Glass of Absinthe” is my personal favorite out of the collection of Picasso pieces. Its meaning is so abstract that Is up to the person to figure it out for themselves. The sculpture features a broken glass of alcohol with a flat/bent spoon sitting on its rim. On this spoon lays a mysterious sugar cube. At first sight the upper part of this piece’s color and texture fools most to believe that it is made out of exposed unpainted bronze. But as Zycherman refutes, it was painted with a brown paint and sand mixture.
So the next time you look at a sculpture, look twice about what its made off so you don’t overlook the beauty of the sculpture.
It seems very honorable and respectable what these conservators do. In a world where art is extremely cherished and praised, there is a basic necessity for people to do the job that the conservators perform. This reminds me of all the jobs that people do so that society can function and continue. Though these jobs may not be as glamorous and as profitable as others, these people are doing very valuable work, and making huge contributions to areas that are incredibly significant. I, as well everyone else, should always respect and recognize these hard-working and invaluable people. These unique few, are the silent heroes of society.
The materials and mediums an artist uses in their works is just as important as the shape, style, or meaning of the art. In fact, it can completely change someone’s perception of a work. I definitely agree with the fact that “much of our nonverbal response to art is really to the artist’s use of materials.” It makes a lot of sense. I also had no idea that Picasso even did sculpture; I honestly only thought he stuck to paint. It’s very interesting to see various works from such a famed artist.
Borys I think what Zycherman did to conserve Picasso’s sculptures is very unique and interesting. Who would have highlighted these pieces besides her in this work? Indeed I felt that the “Glass of Absinthe” is enjoyable because of its abstract nature. It’s a paradox, but people shouldn’t overlook great masters of art just because they are so well-known.
I really like your post. The work of conservators is often over looked. I remember when a conservator botched the restoration of Ecce Homo Fresco which was a huge news story. It is sad their job is often ignored unless they do poorly. I enjoyed your post most of all because it shines a light on a person who is overlooked but whose worked is appreciated, a true unsung hero.
It’s fascinating how the article describes a new method of viewing sculptures. I wasn’t exposed to many sculptures growing up, so I never could’ve thought of this. Viewing the mediums of the artwork is certainly important to understanding the author’s message. Just like what medium a painting is on also affects the message. It could be on glass, metal, canvas, etc. All of them make different statements about the artwork.
I didn’t realize that artworks had to be analyzed by art conservators before it is put onto display for the public. Their job is so important and requires so much time and dedication to make sure that their facts about the artwork are accurate. It makes you think what other people doing in order to prepare art shows and other steps to protect the beauty of each artwork. If we didn’t have these people working and studying art, we would be blind and careless about the meaning and composition of the art. Every little detail in art can change the whole meaning of the work, so we can thank these conservators for providing us information that can lead us to our own interpretation of the art.
I always knew that conservation efforts were necessary when preserving artwork that has been around for a long time. However, I never really thought about the process of conservation itself. I figured that as long as you keep a sculpture intact, it’s good. However, I realize that there is a certain image that is trying to be conveyed with each piece. Therefore, background information and knowledge about what the artist was trying to convey is necessary in creating a genuine portrayal of the piece. I find that incredibly interesting, because it almost seems as if the art is evolving to fit the times via conservation efforts.
I personally believe that the more abstract the artwork, the harder it is to not only understand it but also to focus on every single detail. This is often why small or certain details are overlooked. The jobs of conservators such as Mrs.Zycherman, is all the more amazing. It is such a difficult thing to do and the amount of time and effort needed to analyze each piece before sharing it with the public is tremendous. This just shows hows little credit they are given. This article and your blog post has really opened me up to appreciating, in addition to the artist and artworks, the conservators that work hard to preserve and explain the pieces for us.
It’s pretty crazy how overlooked art conservators are. I never really realized how significant a role they place in preserving certain works of art! Not only must these art conservators have a knowledge of science (in order to properly restore and preserve the various pieces of art), but they also much be somewhat skillful and proficient in art as well! It’s also interesting to note that within Art Conservatism, people have different and unique expertise. For example, one may be skillful at restoring and preserving paintings, while others may better understanding sculptures, objects, textiles, or even musical instruments!
To start off, I love many of Picasso’s paintings, but I didn’t really know that he created sculptures as well. After looking up some of these lesser known sculptures, I have to say, I was thoroughly impressed. They have a very Zany nature and for some reason I can’t quite identify, put a smile on my face. I too was impressed by his work “Glass of Absinthe.” Absinthe is a very unique alcoholic beverage in that in addition to alcohol, contains a delicate balance of herbs that when drank, induce hallucinations. French impressionists greatly enjoyed this drink as it gave them new perspectives on reality to explore in their art. Being that Picasso spent much time in France as an adult, it makes sense that he would become acquainted with this drink. The work’s abstract nature mirrors the distorted reality absinthe creates and offers a unique perspective into the drink.
Sculptures are their own sector of art. Made up of different materials and created with different shapes and angles and colors, they provide both a physical and visual experience for their onlookers, unlike a painting. I think that it is important as you said to appreciate what they are made of and to consider what it adds to the meaning of the piece. Zycherman seems to have a very interesting input on this field of creation and I like the way she talks about it.
Thanks for giving credit to conservators with this post! I recently visited the MoMA and Picasso’s sculptures (free admission with your CUNY ID by the way). It was fascinating to realize that Picasso meant for us to look at his sculptures from different angles. From the side, I saw some wood or cardboard pieces hung up on a wall and dismissed it. But coming to the front, I realized it was a guitar. Many of Picasso’s sculptures give you pieces of the puzzle at each angle and it’s up to you to put them together in your mind’s eye. It was an incredibly enlightening experience! To conserve these sculptures and retain their message must be difficult, especially with Picasso’s work that required so much attention to minute details and abstract thinking.