Copyright %C2%A9 2018 James Castle Collection and Archive LP%2C All rights reserved.
Untitled (Calendar schemes, letterforms, cloaked figures), after 1945
James Castleexpand_more
Soot on white found paper (commercially printed Amalgamated Fine Granulated Sugar wrapper)expand_more
Gift of The James Castle Collection, Boise, Idahoexpand_more 2007.74.1
Not on Viewexpand_more
Calendar schemes, letterforms, and pictographs appear regularly in Castle’s drawings and handmade books. Though he never learned to read or write, Castle understood the implicit function of calendars, letters, and words as abstract sign systems that convey information or meaning. For Castle, the conventional utility of these systems was less important than their formal or structural properties. Indeed, as seen in this example, repetition, rhythm, and the harmonious arrangement of form were paramount. That the meaning of his pictographs and letterforms is not readily apparent does not negate their appeal as abstract designs. The meaning of the cloaked figures is unknown, but these and other similar motifs are common among Castle’s drawings.
Details
- Title
- Untitled (Calendar schemes, letterforms, cloaked figures)
- Artist Life
- 1899–1977
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 2007.74.1
- Provenance
- The artist, Boise, Idaho; Estate of the artist, Boise, Idaho; given to MIA, 2007.
- Curator Approved
This record is from historic documentation and may not have been reviewed by a curator, so may be inaccurate or incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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Copyright © 2018 James Castle Collection and Archive LP, All rights reserved.