Joseph Cornell: A New Surrealism, Works from the 1930's

Joseph Cornell: A New Surrealism, Works from the 1930’s

Turkish Man, 1933

Joseph Cornell: A New Surrealism, Works from the 1930’s

September 10–October 31, 2014

Untitled, 1930's, collage, 10 x 7 1/2 inches (25.4 x 19.1 cm), JCo 116, 1M-11B (NFIC)

Van Doren Waxter is pleased to present Joseph Cornell: A New Surrealism, Works from the 1930’s. The solo exhibition of early works by Joseph Cornell (1903-1972) will be on view from September 10 – October 31.

The exhibition features small-scale collages of the 1930's, Joseph Cornell's first forays into the found object assemblages for which he became known. Other exhibition highlights include box compositions, whimsical pocket-sized pill box creations from Cornell’s initial experimentation with objects and containers that lead to the shadow box. These works give an intimate look into the imaginative vision of this uniquely self-taught American surrealist. Cornell combines and modifies his collected souvenirs into compositions that elevate individual components into artifacts, unified works of unearthly magic and mystery.

Cornell’s idiosyncratic method developed as he visited art galleries and second-hand book sellers in Manhattan’s mercantile district, where he acquired a collection of materials and ephemera. His early collections of memorabilia and curiosities were integral to his creative process. The cultivated and curated collections, which Cornell would use to compose his assemblages, drew from his eclectic interests that ranged from literature, music and dance, maps and science, to a fascination with Hollywood and Vaudeville and to the spiritual theories of Christian Science, which the artist first embraced in the 1920’s. Cornell is widely characterized as reclusive, as he seldom ventured far from the Utopia Parkway, Queens, New York home he shared with his mother and disabled brother. From home Cornell engaged with the New York gallery world and in extensive dialogues and exchanges with his contemporaries, showing an appreciation for foreign places and encounters through his work and correspondence.

Cornell's work debuted in the 1932 exhibition Surréalisme at the Julien Levy Gallery, where he had first discovered Surrealist art and literature. That same year marked the first of three solo shows with the gallery. Cornell's work was included in the historic 1936 exhibition Fantastic Art, Dada, Surrealism at the Museum of Modern Art and retrospective exhibitions at the Pasadena Art Museum (1967) and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York (1967). Cornell died in 1972.

Exhibition History: Mestres del Collage: de Picasso a Rauschenberg, Fundaci贸 Joan Mir贸, Barcelona, Spain (Nov., 2005-Feb., 2006). Catalogue p. 155 (illustrated in color).

Metamorphosis Victorianus: Modern Collage, Victorian Engravings & Nostalgia, Ubu Gallery, New York, New York (Oct. 20, 2009-Jan. 30, 2010).

Joseph Cornell and Surrealism in New York, Mus茅e des Beaux-Arts, Lyon, France (Oct. 18, 2013-Feb. 10, 2014). Catalogue no. 49, p. 96 (illustrated). Travelled to The Fralin Museum of Art at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia (Mar. 7-Jun. 8, 2014).

Untitled, 1930's collage 10 1/8 x 7 1/2 inches (25.7 x 19.1 cm) JCo 107, 1M-11A (NCIC)

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Exhbition History: Joseph Cornell: Navigating the Imagination, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C. (Nov. 17, 2006-Feb. 19, 2007). Catalogue pl. 109, p. 254 (illustrated). Travelled to Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Massachusetts (Apr. 28-Sep. 19, 2007), San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco, California (Oct., 2007-Jan., 2008).

Metamorphosis Victorianus: Modern Collage, Victorian Engravings & Nostalgia, Ubu Gallery, New York, New York (Oct. 20, 2009-Jan. 30, 2010).

Drawing Surrealism: 1915-1945, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, California (Oct. 21, 2012-Jan. 6, 2013). Travelled to The Morgan Library & Museum, New York, New York (Jan. 25-May 12, 2013).

Joseph Cornell and Surrealism in New York, MusĂŠe des Beaux-Arts, Lyon, France (Oct. 18, 2013-Feb. 10, 2014). Catalogue no. 62, p. 104 (illustrated). Travelled to The Fralin Museum of Art at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia (Mar. 7-Jun. 8, 2014).

Untitled (Le Bouvier de l'atlas de Bayer), c. 1934 collage 9 x 7 inches (22.9 x 17.8 cm) JCo 109, 1M-4C (MLVX) 6.

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Exhibition History: Joseph Cornell (Exhibition of Collages, 1930), Shigeru Yokota Gallery, Tokyo, Japan (Sep. 17- Oct. 25, 1996). Catalogue (illustrated).

Surrealism USA, National Academy Museum, New York, New York (Feb.-May, 2005). Catalogue pl. 2, p. 76 (illustrated). Travelled to Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix, Arizona (Jun.-Sep., 2005).

Metamorphosis Victorianus: Modern Collage, Victorian Engravings & Nostalgia, Ubu Gallery, New York, New York (Oct. 20, 2009-Jan. 30, 2010).

Joseph Cornell and Surrealism in New York, MusĂŠe des Beaux-Arts, Lyon, France (Oct. 18, 2013-Feb. 10, 2014). Catalogue no. 52, p. 97 (illustrated). Travelled to The Fralin Museum of Art at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia (Mar. 7-Jun. 8, 2014).

Untitled, 1930's collage 10 1/8 x 7 1/2 inches (25.7 x 19.1 cm) JCo 104, 1M-6C (MHIM)

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Untitled, 1930's collage 9 1/2 x 7 inches (24.1 x 17.8 cm) JCo 112, 1M-4B (MJVX)

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Exhibition History: Mestres del Collage: de Picasso a Rauschenberg, Fundaci贸 Joan Mir贸, Barcelona, Spain (Nov., 2005-Feb., 2006). Catalogue p. 154 (illustrated in color).

Metamorphosis Victorianus: Modern Collage, Victorian Engravings & Nostalgia, Ubu Gallery, New York, New York (Oct. 20, 2009-Jan. 30, 2010).

Joseph Cornell and Surrealism in New York, Mus茅e des Beaux-Arts, Lyon, France (Oct. 18, 2013-Feb. 10, 2014). Catalogue no. 53, p. 98 (illustrated). Travelled to The Fralin Museum of Art at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia (Mar. 7-Jun. 8, 2014).

Untitled, 1930's collage 10 x 7 1/2 inches (25.4 x 19.1 cm) JCo 105, 1M-6F (MYIM)

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Exhibition History: Joseph Cornell: Collages, 1931-1972, Leo Castelli Gallery, New York, New York (May–Jun., 1978). Catalogue no. 5, p.32 (illustrated).

Mestres del Collage: de Picasso a Rauschenberg, Fundació Joan Miró, Barcelona, Spain (Nov., 2005-Feb., 2006). Catalogue p. 152 (illustrated in color).

Metamorphosis Victorianus: Modern Collage, Victorian Engravings & Nostalgia, Ubu Gallery, New York, New York (Oct. 20, 2009-Jan. 30, 2010).

Untitled, 1933 paper collage and gouache on paper 10 1/8 x 7 1/2 inches (25.7 x 19.1 cm) JCo 111, 1M-1B (MQCI)

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Exhibition History: Joseph Cornell: Collages, 1931-1972, Leo Castelli Gallery, New York, New York (May–Jun., 1978). Catalogue no. 16, p.37 (illustrated).

A Transatlantic Avant-Garde: American Artists in Paris, 1918-1939, Musée d’Art Americain, Giverny, France (Aug. 31-Nov. 30, 2003). Catalogue no. 131, p. 173 (illustrated in color). Travelled to Tacoma Museum of Art, Tacoma, Washington (Dec. 18, 2003-Mar. 28, 2004), Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (Apr. 17-Jun. 27, 2004).

Surrealism USA, National Academy Museum, New York, New York (Feb.-May, 2005). Catalogue pl. 4, p. 77 (illustrated). Travelled to Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix, Arizona (Jun.-Sep., 2005).

Metamorphosis Victorianus: Modern Collage, Victorian Engravings & Nostalgia, Ubu Gallery, New York, New York (Oct. 30, 2009-Jan. 30, 2010).

Drawing Surrealism: 1915-1945, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, California (Oct. 21, 2012-Jan. 6, 2013). Catalogue p. 135 (illustrated). Travelled to The Morgan Library & Museum, New York, New York (Jan. 25-May 12, 2013).

Joseph Cornell and Surrealism in New York, Musée des Beaux-Arts, Lyon, France (Oct. 18, 2013-Feb. 10, 2014). Catalogue no. 55, p. 99 (illustrated). Travelled to The Fralin Museum of Art at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia (Mar. 7-Jun. 8, 2014).

Untitled, 1930's collage 10 1/8 x 7 1/2 inches (25.7 x 19.1 cm) JCo 110, 1M-10H (NVXL)

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Exhibition History: A Transatlantic Avant-Garde: American Artists in Paris, 1918-1939, MusÊe d’Art Americain, Giverny, France (Aug. 31-Nov. 30, 2003). Catalogue no. 129, p. 170 (illustrated in color). Travelled to Tacoma Museum of Art, Tacoma, Washington (Dec. 18, 2003-Mar. 28, 2004), Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (Apr. 17-Jun. 27, 2004).

Metamorphosis Victorianus: Modern Collage, Victorian Engravings & Nostalgia, Ubu Gallery, New York, New York (Oct. 20, 2009-Jan. 30, 2010).

Revisioning History, Senior & Shopmaker Gallery, New York, New York (Oct. 4-Nov. 27, 2013).

Untitled, 1930's collage 10 1/8 x 7 1/2 inches (25.7 x 19.1 cm) JCo 115, 1M-10G (NRXL)

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Exhibition History: Andromeda Hotel: The Work of Joseph Cornell, Katonah Museum of Art, Katonah, New York (Jun. 25-Sep. 17, 2006).

Metamorphosis Victorianus: Modern Collage, Victorian Engravings & Nostalgia, Ubu Gallery, New York, New York (Oct. 30, 2009-Jan. 30, 2010).

Alexander the Great: The Iolas Gallery 1955-1987, Paul Kasmin Gallery, New York, New York (Mar. 6-Apr. 26, 2014).

Untitled, 1930s collage 10 1/8 x 7 3/8 inches (27.6 x 18.7 cm) JCo 131

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Noel, 1930's collage 3 1/2 x 2 7/16 inches (8.9 x 6.2 cm) JCo 128

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Turkish Man, c. 1933 collage box 12 3/4 x 9 1/8 x 3 inches (32.4 x 23.2 x 7.6 cm) JCo 118, LC68

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Exhibition History: Joseph Cornell: Objects & Small Boxes, American Dovecote, New York, New York (Oct. 1977).

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Turkish Man, c. 1933 collage box 10 3/4 x 8 x 3 1/4 inches (27.3 x 20.3 x 8.3 cm) JCo 117, LC96

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Exhibition History: Joseph Cornell, James Corcoran Gallery, Los Angeles, California (Feb., 1978).

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Exhibition History: Joseph Cornell, Allan Stone Gallery, New York, New York (Oct. 30-Dec. 20, 2002).

Untitled (Game Box),c. 1939 mixed media box construction 7/8 x 4 1/8 x 5 1/8 in.

2.2 x 10.5 x 13 cm JCo 125

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Left: Frog (Assemblage in painted pill box), 1933 box construction Diameter: 1 1/4 inches (3.2 cm) JCo 125 Exhibition History: Joseph Cornell, Exhibition of Objects, Julian Levy Gallery, New York, New York (1940).

Group Exhibition, Noah Goldowsky Gallery, New York, New York (1977).

Dada & Surrealist Objects, Blain Di Donna, New York, New York (Oct. 24-Dec. 13, 2013).

Right: Untitled (Assemblage in painted pill box), 1933 box construction Diameter: 1 1/4 inches (3.2 cm) JCo 127 Exhibition History: Joseph Cornell, Exhibition of Objects, Julian Levy Gallery, New York, New York (1940).

Group Exhibition, Noah Goldowsky Gallery, New York, New York (1977).

Dada & Surrealist Objects, Blain Di Donna, New York, New York (Oct. 24-Dec. 13, 2013).

Bottom: Earrings for Ondine (Assemblage in painted pill box), 1939 box construction Diameter: 1 1/4 inches (3.2 cm) JCo 126 Exhibition History: Dada & Surrealist Objects, Blain Di Donna, New York, New York (Oct. 24-Dec. 13, 2013).

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Exhibition History: Joseph Cornell (Exhibition of Collages, 1930), Shigeru Yokota Gallery, Tokyo, Japan (Sep. 17- Oct. 25, 1996). Catalogue (illustrated).

Metamorphosis Victorianus: Modern Collage, Victorian Engravings & Nostalgia, Ubu Gallery, New York, New York (Oct. 20, 2009-Jan. 30, 2010).

Surrealismo, Banco do Brasil, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Aug. 20-Oct. 28, 2001). Catalogue (illustrated).

Surrealism USA, National Academy Museum, New York, New York (Feb.-May, 2005). Catalogue pl. 3, p. 77 (illustrated in color). Travelled to Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix, Arizona (Jun.-Sep., 2005).

Untitled, 1930's collage 9 x 6 1/4 inches (22.9 x 15.9 cm) JCo 113, 1M-4D (MNVX)

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Ă€ Serge Lifar en Hommage, 1936 collage 3 1/8 x 4 1/16 inches (7.9 x 10.3 cm) JCo 129

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Exhibition History: Joseph Cornell: Collages, 1931-1972, Leo Castelli Gallery, New York (May–Jun., 1978). Catalogue no. 29, p.44 (illustrated).

Mestres del Collage: de Picasso a Rauschenberg, Fundació Joan Miró, Barcelona, Spain (Nov., 2005-Feb., 2006). Catalogue p. 153 (illustrated in color).

Metamorphosis Victorianus: Modern Collage, Victorian Engravings & Nostalgia, Ubu Gallery, New York, New York (Oct. 20, 2009-Jan. 30, 2010).

Untitled, 1930's collage 10 1/8 x 7 1/2 inches (25.7 x 19.1 cm) JCo 120, 1M-10J (NZXL)

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Exhibition History: Mestres del Collage: de Picasso a Rauschenberg, Fundaci贸 Joan Mir贸, Barcelona, Spain (Nov., 2005-Feb., 2006). Catalogue p. 154 (illustrated in color).

Metamorphosis Victorianus: Modern Collage, Victorian Engravings & Nostalgia, Ubu Gallery, New York, New York (Oct. 20, 2009-Jan. 30, 2010).

Joseph Cornell and Surrealism in New York, Mus茅e des Beaux-Arts, Lyon, France (Oct. 18, 2013-Feb. 10, 2014). Catalogue no. 54, p. 98 (illustrated). Travelled to The Fralin Museum of Art at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia (Mar. 7-Jun. 8, 2014).

Untitled, 1930's collage 10 1/8 x 7 1/2 inches (25.7 x 19.1 cm) JCo 106, 1M-6G (MVIM)

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Exhibition History: Joseph Cornell: Collages, 1931-1972, Leo Castelli Gallery, New York, New York (May–Jun.,1978). Catalogue no. 7, p.33 (illustrated).

Surrealismo, Banco do Brasil, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Aug. 20-Oct. 28, 2001). Catalogue (illustrated).

Mestres del Collage: de Picasso a Rauschenberg, Fundació Joan Miró, Barcelona, Spain (Nov.,2005-Feb., 2006). Catalogue p. 152 (illustrated in color).

Metamorphosis Victorianus: Modern Collage, Victorian Engravings & Nostalgia, Ubu Gallery, New York, New York (Oct. 20, 2009-Jan. 30, 2010).

Joseph Cornell and Surrealism in New York, Musée des Beaux-Arts, Lyon, France (Oct. 18, 2013-Feb. 10, 2014). Catalogue no. 51, p. 97 (illustrated). Travelled to The Fralin Museum of Art at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia (Mar. 7-Jun. 8, 2014).

Untitled, 1933 collage 9 7/8 x 7 1/4 inches (25.1 x 18.4 cm) JCo 103, 1M-1A (MKCI)

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Exhibition History: Joseph Cornell: Collages, 1931-1972, Leo Castelli Gallery, New York, New York (May 6-Jun. 3, 1978).

A Transatlantic Avant-Garde: American Artists in Paris, 1918-1939, MusÊe d’Art Americain, Giverny, France (Aug. 31-Nov. 30, 2003). Travelled to Tacoma Museum of Art, Tacoma, Washington (Dec. 18, 2003-Mar. 28, 2004), Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (Apr. 17-Jun. 27, 2004).

Metamorphosis Victorianus: Modern Collage, Victorian Engravings & Nostalgia, Ubu Gallery, New York, New York (Oct. 20, 2009-Jan. 30, 2010).

Alexander the Great: The Iolas Gallery 1955-1987, Paul Kasmin Gallery, New York, New York (Mar. 6-Apr. 26, 2014).

Untitled, 1930s collage 9 7/8 x 7 3/8 inches (25.1 x 18.7 cm) JCo 132

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Exhibition History: Metamorphosis Victorianus: Modern Collage, Victorian Engravings & Nostalgia, Ubu Gallery, New York, New York (Oct. 20, 2009-Jan. 30, 2010).

Drawing Surrealism: 1915-1945, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, California (Oct. 21, 2012-Jan. 6, 2013). Travelled to The Morgan Library & Museum, New York, New York (Jan. 25-May 12, 2013).

Untitled, 1930's collage 10 x 7 1/2 inches (25.4 x 19.1 cm) JCo 114, 1M-6B (MBIM)

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Exhibition History: Metamorphosis Victorianus: Modern Collage, Victorian Engravings & Nostalgia, Ubu Gallery, New York, New York (Oct. 20, 2009-Jan. 30, 2010).

Drawing Surrealism: 1915-1945, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, California (Oct. 21, 2012-Jan. 6, 2013). Travelled to The Morgan Library & Museum, New York, New York (Jan. 25-May 12, 2013).

Untitled, 1930's collage 10 x 7 1/2 inches (25.4 x 19.1 cm) JCo 116, 1M-11B (NFIC)

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Exhibition History: Joseph Cornell: Collages, 1931-1972, Leo Castelli Gallery, New York, New York (May–Jun., 1978). Catalogue.

A Transatlantic Avant-Garde: American Artists in Paris, 1918-1939, Musée d’Art Americain, Giverny, France (Aug. 31-Nov. 30, 2003). Catalogue no. 127, p. 170 (illustrated in color). Travelled to Tacoma Museum of Art, Tacoma, Washington (Dec. 18, 2003-Mar. 28, 2004), Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (Apr. 17-Jun. 27, 2004).

Metamorphosis Victorianus: Modern Collage, Victorian Engravings & Nostalgia, Ubu Gallery, New York, New York (Oct. 20, 2009-Jan. 30, 2010).

Joseph Cornell and Surrealism in New York, Musée des Beaux-Arts, Lyon, France (Oct. 18, 2013-Feb. 10, 2014). Catalogue no. 50, p. 96 (illustrated). Travelled to The Fralin Museum of Art at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia (Mar. 7-Jun. 8, 2014).

Untitled, 1930's collage 10 x 7 1/2 inches (25.4 x 19.1 cm) JCo 108, 1M-11G (NUIC)

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Biography: Joseph Cornell was born in Nyack, NY. The oldest of 4 children and the son of a successful menswear textile designer, Cornell's family lived comfortably until circumstances after the death of his father in 1917 drastically changed the family’s means.

That same year, Cornell entered Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, although he would not graduate.

Cornell began his professional career as a textile salesman in Manhattan, and later a textile designer like his father. As Cornell canvassed the streets of Manhattan, he began to acquire his first collections of memorabilia and curiosities, perusing the city's shops, theaters, galleries and booksellers. These cultivated and curated collections, which he would use to compose his assemblages, drew from Cornell's eclectic interests in literature, music and dance, maps and science, to a fascination with Hollywood and Vaudeville and to the spiritual theories of Christian Science. Cornell is widely characterized as reclusive, as he seldom ventured far from the Utopia Parkway, Queens, New York home he shared with his mother and disabled brother. From home Cornell did engage with the New York gallery world and in extensive dialogues and exchanges with his contemporaries, showing an appreciation for foreign places and encounters through his work and correspondence.

Cornell's work debuted in the 1932 exhibition SurrĂŠalisme at the Julien Levy Gallery, where he had first discovered Surrealist art and literature. That same year marked the first of three solo shows with the gallery. Cornell's work was included in the historic 1936 exhibition Fantastic Art, Dada, Surrealism at the Museum of Modern Art and retrospective exhibitions at the Pasadena Art Museum (1967) and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York (1967). Cornell died in 1972.

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Plates:

pg. 5

The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation

pg. 7

Private Collection, USA

pg. 9

The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation

pg. 11

The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation

pg. 13

The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation

pg. 15

The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation

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pg. 17

Private Collection, USA

pg. 19

The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation

pg. 21

Private Collection, New York

pg. 23

Collection of Tim Baum, New York

pg. 25

Private Collection, USA

pg. 27

Private Collection, USA

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pg. 29

Private Collection, New York

pg. 31

Private Collection, New York

pg. 33

The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation

pg. 35

Collection of Tim Baum, New York

pg. 37

The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation

pg. 39

The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation

pg. 41

The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation

pg. 43

Private Collection, New York 54.

pg. 45

The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation

pg. 47

The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation

pg. 49

The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation

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Joseph Cornell: A New Surrealism, Works from the 1930’s September 10 – October 31, 2014 Edited by Dorsey Waxter, Sophia Jackson, Nick Naber Designed by Nick Naber Artwork Photography by Ronald Amstuz, Ulises Beato, Charles Benton With special thanks to James Corcoran Gallery and Tracy Lew, Allan Stone Collection, Tim Baum, Ubu Gallery, and Lauren and Daniel Long.

Van Doren Waxter 23 East 73rd Street New York, NY 10021 tel: 212 444 0444 fax: 212 445 0442 email: info@vandorenwaxter.com www.vandorenwaxter.com Van Doren Waxter All rights reserved. No Part of the contents of this catalogue may be reproduced without permission of the publisher.

Van Doren Waxter

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