Synopses & Reviews
Joseph Cornell (1903andndash;1972) was one of the 20th centuryandrsquo;s leading exponents of collage and assemblage. A connoisseur of an astonishing array of subjects, Cornellandrsquo;s captivation with bygone imagery encompassed astronomical charts and geographical maps, Italian and Spanish Old Master paintings, historical ballet, early film, literature, poetry, and ornithology. Most iconic among his works are his box constructionsandmdash;microcosmic curiosity cabinetsandmdash;filled with once-precious fragments that he collected in thrift shops in his native New York.
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Joseph Cornell: Wanderlust is a landmark publication examining this remarkable work. It brings together some of Cornellandrsquo;s most compelling assemblages and box constructions (including Medici slot machines, soap-bubble sets, and animal habitats). The contributors raise questions about Cornellandrsquo;s artistic processes while drawing parallels with historical modes of inquiry such as connoisseurship, exploration, and classification.
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About the Author
Sarah Lea is curator of the exhibition
Joseph Cornell: Wanderlust at the Royal Academy of Arts.
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Lynda Roscoe Hartigan is former director of the Smithsonianandrsquo;s Joseph Cornell Study Center. Jasper Sharp is adjunct curator for modern and contemporary art at the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna.