Between the Lines
Artist
Pat Steir
(American, born 1938)
Printer
David Panosh
Printer
Jack Lemon
Publisher
Landfall Press
(American, founded 1970)
DateOctober 18, 1973 - January 30, 1974
Mediumlithograph and graphite
DimensionsImage: 27 5/16 × 31 13/16 in. (69.4 × 80.8 cm)
Support: 27 5/16 × 31 13/16 in. (69.4 × 80.8 cm)
Mat: 31 1/2 × 35 3/4 in. (80 × 90.8 cm)
Support: 27 5/16 × 31 13/16 in. (69.4 × 80.8 cm)
Mat: 31 1/2 × 35 3/4 in. (80 × 90.8 cm)
ClassificationsGraphic
Credit LineGift of Lucy R. Lippard, 1999
Object number1999.15.366
DescriptionUpper third is black with lines. Beneath is a long inscription to Victor Hugo, images of a crow, fruit, and flowereMuseum Notes
Text reads as: To Victor Hugo of my crow Pluto - "Even when the bird is walking we know that it has wings" - Victor Hugo - Of: my crow Pluto, the true Plato, azzurro negro - green blue rainbow - Victor Hugo, it is true we know that the crow - 'has wings however pigeon - toe - inturned on grass · We do · (adagio) Vivo - rosso 'corvo' although
Between the Lines is a lithograph with a pencil
inscription that at first glance appears to be from the artist to writer Victor
Hugo. The handwriting is the transcription of a portion of American Modernist
poet Marianne Moore’s 1961 poem, To Victor Hugo of My Crow
Pluto. The
juxtaposition of poetry and the title of the work prompt the viewer to think about structure
and interpretation. The emphasis that this print was drafted in layers is accentuated
by the illustrations and ink tests printed at the bottom of the work.
On View
Not on viewBerenice Abbott
circa 1936 (printed 1982)