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Fogg Art Museum Scrapbook, January 1929-December 1931

ARCH.2003.25, Rendition: 794245

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The image shows a page from "The Art Digest," dated April 15, 1931, focusing on "Still Life Presented in Its Historical Phase." The page features two black-and-white illustrations and accompanying text.

  1. Left Illustration: "Mystic Marriage of St. Catherine" by Jan Breughel and Antony Van Dyck. This illustration depicts a still life arrangement with a medallion containing an image of Saint Catherine, surrounded by floral elements.

  2. Right Illustration: "Mallards" by Walt Kuhn. This illustration shows a group of ducks on a table setting, with a dark, realistic depiction.

The text on the page discusses an exhibition titled "History of Still Life Exhibition," arranged by students in a museum course at Harvard University. The exhibition is held at the Fogg Art Museum during April and aims to showcase the history of still life painting, contrasting historical works with modern interpretations. The students are attempting to reveal the dramatic and aesthetic interest in this form of art and include works by artists such as Cézanne, Van Gogh, Henri Rousseau, and Matisse.

The page indicates that historical pictures are represented by a sixteenth-century interior and a South German interior, alongside the illustrations of artistic works. The text also credits the images and mentions the Marie Harriman Gallery as the source for one of the illustrations.

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This image appears to be a page from "The Art Digest," dated 15th April, 1931, featuring an article titled "Still Life Presented in Its Historical Phase." The page is numbered 6 at the top left corner and has three holes punched along the left edge, suggesting it was part of a binder.

The article discusses a "History of Still Life Exhibition" organized by students taking a museum course at Harvard University, held at the Fogg Art Museum during April. The exhibition aims to showcase the history of still life painting through various periods and styles.

There are two black-and-white illustrations on the page:

  1. On the left, the illustration is titled "Mystic Marriage of St. Catherine," created by Jan Breughel and Antony Van Dyck. It depicts a circular medallion containing a scene of St. Catherine, encircled by a wreath of flowers.

  2. On the right, the illustration is titled "Mallards," by Walt Kuhn. It shows a still life of ducks, with one duck standing and another lying down, placed on a cloth surface.

The text below the illustrations provides details about the exhibition, mentioning that it includes works by various artists such as Cézanne, Van Gogh, Henri Rousseau, Matisse, Derain, and Walt Kuhn. It also notes that the exhibition aims to reveal the dramatic and aesthetic interest in still life painting, which may not be immediately apparent to casual museum visitors. The historical pictures are represented by a de Heem 16th century interior and a South German interior. The painting by Walt Kuhn was lent by the Marie Harriman Galleries, and the canvas containing a medallion by Van Dyck was from the Arthur Edwin Bye Galleries of Philadelphia.

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This image displays a single, aged, off-white page from a publication, showing signs of yellowing and slight wear along the edges. It is from “The Art Digest” dated April 15th, 1931, and is marked as page 6 in the top left corner. The page features three punched holes along its left margin, indicating it was likely stored in a binder.

The main content is an article titled in bold:
“Still Life Presented in Its Historical Phase”

Below the headline is a two-column layout featuring two black-and-white reproductions of paintings, each with a caption, followed by a block of explanatory text beneath them.


Left Image Caption:

“Mystic Marriage of St. Catherine,” Jan Breughel and Antony Van Dyck.

This image shows a circular painting inset into a dense, elaborate floral arrangement, creating a “flower garland” or “garland painting” composition — a popular Flemish Baroque genre. The central scene depicts figures (presumably St. Catherine and Christ) in a romantic, religious tableau.

Right Image Caption:

“Mallards,” by Walt Kuhn. Courtesy of Marie Harriman Gallery.

This is a realist-style still life depicting two dead mallard ducks, likely hunters’ prize, arranged on a rumpled cloth. The style is more modern and direct, contrasting with the ornate historical piece to its left.


Body Text Summary:

The article describes a student-organized “History of Still Life Exhibition” at Harvard University’s Fogg Art Museum during April 1931. The goal was to trace the evolution and changing aesthetic appeal of still life painting.

Key points from the article:

  • The exhibition includes works by modern masters: Cézanne, Van Gogh, Henri Rousseau, Matisse, Derain, and Walt Kuhn.
  • The two reproduced paintings are examples:
    • The Walt Kuhn painting “Mallards” represents modern still life.
    • The Jan (Velvet) Breughel painting (co-created with Van Dyck) — a “canvas containing a medallion by Van Dyck enclosed in a flower wreath” — represents the 17th-century Flemish tradition.
  • The Breughel painting is noted as being loaned from the Arthur Edwin Bye Galleries of Philadelphia.
  • Other historical pieces in the show include a de Heem 17th-century interior and a South German interior.
  • The article notes that still life is often overlooked by casual museum visitors, and the students aim to reveal its dramatic and aesthetic interest.

In essence, this page captures a historical moment in art education and criticism — a student-curated exhibition that contextualizes still life painting from its Baroque origins to its modernist interpretations, using contrasting examples to illustrate the genre’s evolution. The juxtaposition of the ornate, symbolic floral work with the blunt, naturalistic depiction of hunted game underscores the thematic breadth of the exhibition.

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This is a page from a magazine, titled "The Art Digest," dated April 15, 1931. The page features an article titled "Still Life Presented in Its Historical Phase." The article discusses a "History of Still Life Exhibition" being held at the Fogg Art Museum during April. The exhibition is curated by students taking the museum course. The article highlights the historical significance of still life paintings and how they reveal the dramatic and aesthetic interests of artists throughout history. The article also mentions that modern artists are well represented in the exhibition. The page includes two images of still life paintings, one by Jan van Eyck and the other by Walter Kuhn.

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The image shows a page from a newspaper with a headline that reads "Still Life Presented in Its Historical Phase." There are two photographs on the page, one on the left and one on the right. The photograph on the left is titled "Mystic Marriage of St. Catherine" by Jan Brueghel and Anthony van Dyck, and the photograph on the right is titled "Mallards" by Walt Kuhn. The text below the photographs provides information about the exhibition and the artists.

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The image shows a page from The Art Digest, dated 15th April 1931, featuring an article titled "Still Life Presented in Its Historical Phase." The page includes two photographs and accompanying text.

Left Photograph:

  • Caption: "Mystic Marriage of St. Catherine," Jan van Brought and Antony van Dyck.
  • Description: The image depicts a still life arrangement with a central circular frame containing a religious or allegorical painting or illustration. Surrounding the frame are various flowers and decorative elements, creating a symmetrical and ornate composition. The style suggests a historical or classical influence, likely from the Baroque period.

Right Photograph:

  • Caption: "Mallards," by Walt Kuhn. Courtesy of Marie Harriman Gallery.*
  • Description: This image shows a still life arrangement featuring two mallard ducks placed on a surface, likely a table or countertop. The composition is more modern in style, with a focus on the natural forms of the ducks and a less ornate presentation compared to the left image. The photograph is credited to the Marie Harriman Gallery.

Text:

The accompanying text explains that the article is part of a "History of Still Life Exhibition" arranged by students at the Fogg Art Museum during April. It highlights the evolution of still life painting, noting that the students are attempting to reveal the dramatic and aesthetic interest in this form of art. The text also mentions that the historical pictures are represented by works from artists such as Cézanne, Van Gogh, Henri Rousseau, Matisse, Derain, and Walt Kuhn. It further describes the contrast between historical and modern still life styles, with the modern examples being well-represented in the exhibition.

Overall Context:

The page aims to explore the historical development of still life painting, juxtaposing classical and modern approaches. The two photographs serve as visual examples to illustrate this theme, with the left image representing a traditional, ornate style and the right image showcasing a more contemporary, naturalistic approach. The article provides insight into how students are engaging with the history and evolution of still life art.

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The image is a page from an art digest magazine, featuring two black-and-white photographs of paintings. The title of the article is "Still Life Presented in Its Historical Phase."

  • The first photograph shows a painting of a vase with flowers, surrounded by a floral wreath.
    • The painting is titled "Mythic Marriage of St. Catherine" and was created by Jan Breugel and Jeremy Van Dyck.
    • The painting is described as a "History of Still Life Exhibition," arranged by students taking the museum course at Harvard University.
  • The second photograph shows a painting of a still life, featuring a bowl of fruit and a bird.
    • The painting is titled "Mallards" and was created by Walt Kuhn.
    • The painting is described as a reproduction of a painting by Walt Kuhn, lent by the Marie Harriman Galleries.
  • The article also includes a description of the historical context of still life painting, including its origins in the Renaissance and its development over time.
    • The article notes that still life painting was initially used to depict everyday objects and scenes, but later evolved to include more complex and symbolic compositions.
    • The article also mentions the influence of other art movements, such as Impressionism and Cubism, on still life painting.

Overall, the image provides a glimpse into the world of still life painting, highlighting its evolution over time and its continued relevance in modern art.

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The image depicts a page from an old newspaper or magazine, featuring two black-and-white photographs of still-life paintings. The page is yellowed and has three holes punched along the left side, suggesting it was once part of a binder or folder.

At the top of the page, the title "Still Life Presented in Its Historical Phase" is prominently displayed in large font. Below this, two photographs are arranged side by side, each showcasing a different still-life painting. The left photograph features a circular arrangement of flowers, while the right photograph depicts a more abstract composition with various objects.

Below the photographs, a brief article provides context and information about the paintings. The text is written in a formal tone and appears to be an excerpt from a larger article or essay. The overall design and layout of the page suggest that it was created for educational or informative purposes, perhaps as part of a course or exhibition on art history.

The background of the image is a plain gray color, which helps to focus attention on the page and its contents. Overall, the image presents a fascinating glimpse into the world of art history and the ways in which still-life paintings have been presented and interpreted over time.

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The image depicts a page from "The Art Digest" dated April 15th, 1931. The page is titled "Still Life Presented in Its Historical Phase" and features two black-and-white images of artworks.

  • The page is off-white with a rough edge on the right side and three holes punched along the left edge.
  • The title is centered at the top of the page, with the publication name and date above it.
  • Below the title are two images:
    • The left image is a still life painting titled "'Mystic Marriage of St. Catherine,' Jan Breughel and Antony Van Dyck."
    • The right image is another still life painting titled "'Mallards,' by Walt Kuhn."
  • Below the images is a paragraph of text discussing an exhibition of still life paintings at Harvard University's Fogg Art Museum.
  • The background of the image is a light gray color.

The image appears to be a scanned or photographed copy of a page from an art magazine or journal, showcasing two still life paintings and providing context about an exhibition featuring similar works.

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The image presents a vintage newspaper clipping, likely from an art magazine or journal, featuring two black-and-white photographs of artworks. The clipping is titled "Still Life Presented in Its Historical Phase" and includes the date "15th April, 1931."

  • Title and Date
    • The title "Still Life Presented in Its Historical Phase" is prominently displayed at the top of the clipping.
    • The date "15th April, 1931" is written below the title.
  • Photographs of Artworks
    • Two black-and-white photographs of artworks are featured side by side.
    • The left photograph shows a still life painting with flowers and a central image, titled "'Mystic Marriage of St. Catherine,' Jan Breughel and Antoon Van Dyck."
    • The right photograph depicts a still life with fruit and a bird, titled "'Mallards,' by Walt Kuhn, Courtesy of Marie Harriman Gallery."
  • Text
    • A paragraph of text below the photographs discusses the history of still life painting and its present trend.
    • The text highlights the dramatic and aesthetic interest in this form of art, which seems to hold little enjoyment for the casual museum visitor.
    • The modernists are well-represented in the show.
  • Background
    • The clipping is placed on a light gray background, suggesting that it may be a scanned or photographed image.

In summary, the image showcases a vintage newspaper clipping featuring two still life artworks and discussing the history and current trends in still life painting.