Archives Scrapbooks

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Fogg Art Museum Scrapbooks, February 1978-October 1982

ARCH.2003.37, Rendition: 808662

Qwen, Qwen/Qwen2.5-VL-7B-Instruct

The image appears to be a newspaper clipping with the headline "Creation from the whirlwind of madness: The remarkable art, music and writing of Adolf Wolfli at the Busch-Reisinger Museum." The article discusses the life and work of Adolf Wolfli, a Swiss painter, musician, and writer who was institutionalized in a mental hospital for most of his life due to schizophrenia.

The article includes a photograph of Wolfli, who is depicted with a bald head and a serious expression, holding a painting. In the lower right corner of the article, there is a smaller illustration of a piece of art, which appears to be a painting or drawing featuring fantastical and surreal elements.

The text of the article is written in a formal tone, discussing the impact of Wolfli's work on art, music, and literature, and the challenges of understanding the nature of creative activity in the context of mental illness. The article also mentions the Busch-Reisinger Museum, which is hosting an exhibition of Wolfli's work, and the Wolfli Foundation, which is organizing the exhibition.

Qwen, Qwen/Qwen2.5-VL-72B-Instruct

This image is a newspaper clipping titled "Creation from the whirlwind of madness," which appears to be from the Boston Globe, dated 9/17/78. The article discusses the art, music, and writing of Adolf Wolfli, a Swiss artist who was a schizophrenic and whose works are featured at the Busch-Reisinger Museum.

The article is written by Robert Taylor, a Globe Staff writer. It explores the concept of art created by mentally ill individuals, particularly focusing on Wolfli's work. The text mentions Michel Tournier's description of Wolfli as a man of genius and discusses the historical context of how mental illness has been viewed in relation to creativity. It also references the work of Dr. Walter Morgenthaler and Hans Prinzhorn in studying the artistry of the mentally ill.

In the center of the clipping, there is a black-and-white photograph of Adolf Wolfli. He is shown from the shoulders up, wearing a simple outfit, and appears to be engaged in an activity, possibly related to his art. The photograph captures Wolfli’s distinctive appearance, including his bald head and serious expression.

Below the photograph, there is a smaller image of one of Wolfli's artworks. The artwork is highly detailed and intricate, featuring various elements such as text, patterns, and possibly figures, which are characteristic of Wolfli's style. The caption under the photograph identifies it as "Adolf Wolfli and one of his works."

The article continues to discuss the challenges and interdisciplinary nature of the exhibition, touching on art, clinical medicine, and psychiatric theory. It questions the meaning of art within the context of insanity and the existence of a psychology of art in the works of the mentally ill. The text also mentions the role of the Dada artists in investigating the artistic potential of the irrational and the few exceptions like Richard Dadd, who were recognized for their strange and haunting works.

Overall, the clipping provides a detailed exploration of Adolf Wolfli's life and art, emphasizing the significance of his work in the context of the artistry of the mentally ill and its impact on European culture.

Qwen, qwen.qwen3-vl-235b-a22b

This image shows an open scrapbook or binder, displaying a newspaper clipping from the Boston Globe dated September 17, 1978. The article is titled:

“Creation from the whirlwind of madness”

The sub-headline reads:

“The remarkable art, music and writing of Adolf Wolfli at the Busch-Reisinger Museum”

The article, written by Robert Taylor (Globe Staff), is a cultural review examining the life and work of Adolf Wölfli (1864–1930), a Swiss artist diagnosed with schizophrenia who created prolific and intricate works while institutionalized.


Key elements in the image:

  • Main photograph: A large, central black-and-white image shows Adolf Wölfli seated, holding a long stick or cane, wearing a dark vest and white shirt. He appears elderly with a solemn expression.

  • Inset image: In the lower right corner, there’s a smaller photo of one of Wölfli’s artworks — a complex, densely drawn piece titled “Comte de Charlotte en échelle” — featuring abstract lines, patterns, and a small, skull-like face.

  • Text highlights:

    • The article opens with a quote attributed to Wölfli: “Ah, how I like to read and study all the time. God likes me for ever and ever! But it is terribly far.”
    • It discusses how Wölfli’s art was initially dismissed as the product of mental illness but later reevaluated as visionary, genius-level work.
    • Mentions of figures like Michel Tournier, Hans Prinzhorn, and Jean Dubuffet contextualize Wölfli’s work within historical and art-critical frameworks.
    • The article notes the exhibition at Harvard University’s Busch-Reisinger Museum, and its upcoming tour to Chicago, Des Moines, and Los Angeles.
    • A caption beneath the main photograph identifies it as: “Adolf Wölfli and one of his works.”
  • Additional markings:

    • Handwritten in pencil: “9/17/78 Boston Globe” at the top center.
    • The clipping is taped into the scrapbook, with visible adhesive tape along the top and right edge.
    • The scrapbook pages are aged and slightly yellowed.
    • A small piece of brown paper or tape is stuck to the top of the page, above the clipping.

Overall Context:

This clipping documents a significant moment in the reception of outsider art — a time when the work of institutionalized artists like Wölfli began to be taken seriously by the mainstream art world. The article reflects a shift in cultural perspective, from viewing such work as pathological to seeing it as profoundly creative and psychologically revealing.

The scrapbook itself suggests someone was curating or archiving material related to Wölfli or outsider art in general, preserving this historical review for future reference.


In summary: This is an archival newspaper clipping from 1978, celebrating the art of Adolf Wölfli, accompanied by photos of the artist and his work, preserved in a personal scrapbook. It captures a pivotal moment in the recognition of “art brut” or outsider art as legitimate and powerful cultural expression.

Amazon, amazon.nova-pro-v1:0

The image is of a page from a book. The page is torn and has some tape on it. The page is slightly curled and has some creases. The page is from a book that is about Adolf Wolffi and his art. The page has a black and white photo of a man holding a stick. The man is wearing a shirt and pants. The page also has a quote from Adolf Wolffi.

Amazon, amazon.nova-lite-v1:0

A page from a magazine or book featuring an article about Adolf Wölfli, a Swiss artist who created remarkable art, music, and writing while suffering from schizophrenia. The article is titled "Creation from the Whirlwind of Madness," and it includes a black-and-white photograph of Wölfli holding a stick, along with a drawing of a skull and crossbones. The article discusses Wölfli's life and work, including his hospitalization in a psychiatric institution and the impact of his illness on his art. The article also mentions an exhibition of Wölfli's work at the Busch-Reisinger Museum in Bern, Switzerland, which was organized by the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis and the Art Institute of Chicago.

Amazon, us.amazon.nova-2-lite-v1:0

The image shows an open book page featuring an article titled "Creation from the whirlwind of madness". The article discusses the art, music, and writing of Adolf Wölfli, a Swiss artist who was institutionalized for much of his life. The text highlights Wölfli's remarkable creative output, including paintings, drawings, and musical compositions, which were showcased at the Busch-Reisinger Museum.

Key Details from the Image:

  1. Headline:

    • The headline reads: "Creation from the whirlwind of madness", emphasizing the theme of creativity emerging from mental illness.
  2. Subheading:

    • The subheading states: "The remarkable art, music and writing of Adolf Wölfli at the Busch-Reisinger Museum", indicating the focus of the article.
  3. Content Overview:

    • The article explores Wölfli's life, his mental health struggles, and his artistic achievements. It mentions that Wölfli was considered mentally ill and institutionalized, yet he produced an extensive body of work, including paintings, drawings, and musical compositions.
    • It references a 1983 exhibition at the Busch-Reisinger Museum, which showcased Wölfli's work, and notes his influence on other artists, such as Jean Dubuffet, who founded the "Art Brut" movement.
  4. Visual Elements:

    • On the right side of the page, there is a black-and-white illustration or photograph of a person, likely Wölfli, engaged in an artistic activity. The figure appears to be drawing or sketching, with a piece of paper or canvas in front of them.
    • Below the illustration, there is a smaller caption or credit that reads: "Eika Speeri of the Wölfli Foundation – Adolf Wölfli and me", suggesting the image is part of an archive or collection related to Wölfli's work.
  5. Textual Highlights:

    • The article quotes Wölfli himself, with a line attributed to him: "Ah, I like to read! God, how I ever read and ever will read!"
    • It discusses Wölfli's artistic process, noting that his work was created during his institutionalization and that it challenged conventional notions of art and creativity.
    • The text also references Wölfli's writings, including a monologue titled "Wolfli: The Story of the Mentally Ill Artist", which was published in 1921.
  6. Contextual Notes:

    • The article is from the Boston Globe, as indicated by the header at the top of the page.
    • The date "9/17/98" is visible in the top-right corner, suggesting the article was published on September 17, 1998.
    • The page number "B13" is noted at the bottom right, indicating it is from page B13 of the newspaper.

Overall Impression:

The image captures a scholarly and artistic exploration of Adolf Wölfli's life and work, emphasizing the intersection of creativity and mental illness. The combination of textual analysis and visual representation provides a comprehensive view of Wölfli's legacy and his impact on the art world.

OpenAI, gpt-4

The image shows an open book or newspaper with an article visible on the right-hand page. The title of the article is “Creation from the whirlwind of madness” and it discusses the remarkable art, music, and writing of Adolf Wölfli at the Busch-Reisinger Museum. The text is in English and the layout features two columns with a mix of text and images. On the left side of the article, part of another piece of paper or article is visible with the date "9/17/78" and the words "Boston Globe" indicating it might be sourced from the Boston Globe newspaper. The article about Adolf Wölfli contains a black and white photograph of a person with an obscured facial identity, holding what appears to be a stick or rod. To the bottom right of the photograph is a small black and white illustration or reproduction of what could be one of Wölfli's artworks. The pages are yellowed and aged, with visible wear and tear such as a torn corner at the top. There is tape along the edge of the top corner, suggesting a past attempt at repair or preservation.

OpenAI, gpt-4o-2024-11-20

This is a black-and-white newspaper clipping titled "Creation from the whirlwind of madness." It discusses the artistic works of Adolf Wölfli at the Busch-Reisinger Museum. The clipping features a blurred image of a person holding a frame or artwork. The artwork includes intricate abstract designs with text and possibly faces or figures. Various paragraphs of text surround the image, giving context to the exhibition and Wölfli's artwork, music, and writings. There are handwritten notes and markings at the top, including the date "9/1/78" and "Boston Globe."

OpenAI, gpt-4.1-mini-2025-04-14

The image shows a newspaper clipping titled "Creation from the whirlwind of madness," which discusses the remarkable art, music, and writing of Adolf Wölfli at the Busch-Reisinger Museum. The article appears to be written by Robert Taylor from the Globe Staff. There is a black-and-white photograph of Adolf Wölfli holding a paintbrush and an artwork. The text mentions Wölfli's history, his struggles with mental illness, and his art's significance, including references to surrealist and outsider art perspectives. The article discusses the exhibition of Wölfli's work and its impact. The clipping is taped or glued onto a page in a book or scrapbook, with some deterioration visible at the top edge. The date "9/17/78" and "Boston Globe" are handwritten at the top.

OpenAI, gpt-5-nano-2025-08-07

  • The image is a black-and-white newspaper clipping mounted in a scrapbook page.
  • The headline reads: “Creation from the whirlwind of madness,” with a subheading about Adolf Wolfli at the Busch-Reising Museum.
  • A large grayscale photograph of a man is centered on the page. The person is dressed in a suit with a shirt and tie; his pose is with hands on hips and the coat draped open. The head appears as a blank, oval cutout, giving an anonymous look.
  • There is another small artwork image in the lower-right portion of the clipping.
  • The page is framed by columns of text on both sides of the photo, typical of a newspaper article.
  • A handwritten note at the top mentions “Boston Globe” and a date, suggesting the source.
  • The clipping shows aging and glue marks, and is affixed to a light-colored scrapbook page.