David Smith
American, 1906-1965
Untitled (Study for Cubi VII)
INV-1874
David Smith
American, 1906-19651963
Untitled (Study for Cubi VII)
David Smith American, 1906-1965 →spray enamelprints and drawing
Date
1963
Medium
Black, blue and ochre spray enamel with black pastel and white oil paint on cream laid paper
Dimensions
Max: 40.8 × 29.7 cm (16 1/8 × 11 3/4 in.)
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Location
Chicago, IL
Credit
Purchased with funds provided by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Delaney, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Delaney Fund, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Delaney Endowment
Untitled (1963) is a study for the Art Institute’s stainless-steel sculpture Cubi VII (1963), which presently sits in the North Garden. The strength and weight of Cubi VII are counteracted by the awe-inspiring balance of its forms, leaving the viewer marveling at the dichotomy between material and form. David Smith’s untitled spray drawing, however, tells a much different story about the artist’s methodology. The drawing evinces Smith’s careful planning and selective juxtaposition of the geometric shapes that characterize the Cubi series. Moreover, it allows the viewer to appreciate both Smith’s technique as a sculptor and his skill as a draftsman on a more intimate, elemental level.
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