Egg on Block, 1923

Darstellung: 11.9 x 9.4 cm

Physical Description: Platinum print mounted on carcboard

Inventory Number: St.F.149

Acquisition: Acquired in 2011 with support from the Kulturstiftung der Länder and the Hessischer Kulturstiftung, property of the Städelscher Museums-Verein e.V.

Status: Not on display

Texts

About the Work

To Paul Outerbridge, a small chicken egg posed a great challenge. In this case it meant taking 4,000 photos before he was satisfied with the form and surface. Objects were of primary importance to the perfectionist. He worked on their representation until they had an animate and unique quality. As if it were an objet trouvé – something found by chance – he presents the egg on a small block, raising the everyday to the status of an artwork. In the 1920s, Outerbridge was particularly successful in photographing objects for advertising.

Audio

Basic information

00:46

Work Data

Basic Information

Title: Egg on Block

Photographer

Paul Outerbridge

Period Produced

20th century

School

surrealism

Object Type

photograph

Physical Description: Platinum print mounted on carcboard

Material

Technique

platinotype

Captions Added Later: Bezeichnet verso oben links auf dem Trägerkarton: Handschriftlich: 028
Bezeichnet verso oben rechts auf dem Trägerkarton: Handschriftlich: MM - S - (unleserlich)
Bezeichnet verso unten links auf dem Trägerkarton: Handschriftlich: RK 893

Property and Acquisition

Institution

Städel Museum

Departement

Photographic Collection

Collection

Städelsches Kunstinstitut

Creditline: Städel Museum, Frankfurt am Main, Eigentum des Städelschen Museums-Vereins e.V.

Picture Copyright: © G. Ray Hawkins Gallery, Beverly Hills, CA

Acquisition: Acquired in 2011 with support from the Kulturstiftung der Länder and the Hessischer Kulturstiftung, property of the Städelscher Museums-Verein e.V.