For Carl Andre
For Carl Andre
Artist
Brice Marden
(1938 - 2023)
Date1966, repainted 1969-1970
MediumOil and beeswax on canvas
Dimensions60 × 65 in. (152.4 × 165.1 cm)
ClassificationsPainting
Credit LineCrystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas, Gift of Constance R. Caplan, 2014.42
Signedverso: For Carl Andre / B Marden / 1966 / Repainted in 1969-70
Accession number
2014.42
On View
Not on viewLabel TextFor Carl Andre is a tribute to Marden’s friend, the Minimalist artist Carl Andre. Andre made sculptures using metal plates that sit directly on the floor and can be stepped on, as pictured in the photograph below. In this “portrait” of the artist, Marden’s metallic gray square refers to his friend’s sculptures instead of his physical appearance.
While some artists use paint to create the illusion of an object, Marden uses the medium to remind viewers that they are already looking at an object: a painted canvas. Unlike other abstract artists, such as Helen Frankenthaler, whose work is featured nearby, Marden avoids all identifiable and expressive marks, ensuring that the surface remains the only subject of the painting. In this way, his painting is an homage to Andre’s work, rather than a realistic portrait.
Markingsverso, u.l., on backing board: [National Gallery of Art loan label]
verso, u.c., on backing board: [Matthew Marks Gallery label]
verso, u.c., on backing board: [Bykert Gallery label]
verso, u.c., on backing board: [Museum of Contemporary Art, “Under Development: Dreaming the MCA’s Collection” exhibition label]
