To Italian writer Umberto Eco, “the list is the origin of culture”, making “infinity comprehensible”. Lists, like Michelangelo’s 16th-Century grocery list, Mark E. Smith’s list of his most-loved books, Carl Sagan’s Baloney Detection Kit and Eco’s own 14 common features of the eternal fascist, lists are our “attempt to grasp the incomprehensible”.
In the book Lists: To-dos, Illustrated Inventories, Collected Thoughts, and Other Artists’ Enumerations from the Collections of the Smithsonian Museum, we see lists by Willem de Kooning, Joseph Cornell, Mark Rothko and more.
Finnish-born architect Eero Saarinen listed the good qualities of New York Times art editor and critic Aline Bernstein, his soon-to-be second wife. Oscar Bluemner made lists of colour combinations for a single painting. Pablo Picasso listed his recommendations and artists he liked for Walt Kuhn 1913 Armory show.
Pablo Picasso, recommendations for the Armory Show for Walt Kuhn, 1912. Walt Kuhn, Kuhn family papers, and Armory Show records, 1859–1978. Archives of American Art. Smithsonian Institution.
Adolf Konrad, packing list, 1962–63. Adolf Ferdinand Konrad papers, 1962–2002. Archives of American Art. Smithsonian Institution.
Eero Saarinen, list of Aline Bernstein’s good qualities, ca. 1954. Aline and Eero Saarinen papers, 1857–1972. Archives of American Art. Smithsonian Institution.
Ad Reinhardt, list of paintings, ca. 1966. Ad Reinhardt papers, 1927–68. Archives of American Art. Smithsonian Institution.
Oscar Bluemner, list of works of art, May 18, 1932. Oscar Bluemner papers, 1886–1939, 1960. Archives of American Art. Smithsonian Institution.
Janice Lowry, to-do list, August 9, 2003, journal no. 101. Janice Lowry papers, 1957–2008. Archives of American Art. Smithsonian Institution.
Margaret De Patta list of orders, circa 1946.
Receipt from John Heller’s Liquor Store in Greenwich Village – from painter Franz Kline’s purchase on New Year’s Eve 1960. (Via)
List of paintings and drawings destroyed by fire of Bob Thompson, 1977. Bob Thompson papers, 1949-2005. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
James Penney’s New York Sketchbook, 1932. James Penney papers, 1913-1984. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Correspondence concerning the insurance values of Lipofsky’s “Marvin’s miniature series.” Lipofsky submitted eight glass objects to the Master Craftsmen exhibit at the University Art Gallery at the State University of New York at Binghamton : Marvin B. (Marvin Bentley) Lipofsky. Marvin B. Lipofsky, Berkeley, Calif. letter to State University of New York at Binghamton, 1971 Oct. 15. Marvin Lipofsky papers, 1954-2018. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Paul Bransom. Alphabetical list of animals, ca. 1911.
Handwritten diary entries include to-do lists, and are illustrated with clippings, drawings, photographs, and other graphic materials.
Only selected pages have been scanned.
One of 119 art journals, ranging from circa 1973-2007, in Lowry’s papers.
Citation
Janice Ann Lowry. Janice Lowry journal 98, 2002-2003. Janice Lowry papers, 1957-2009. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Joseph Cornell. List of items at a Madison Square Garden antiques fair, ca. 1957.
Address list of Calder’s friends and associates in Paris, France. Alexander Calder. Address list, ca. 1926-38. Alexander Calder papers, 1926-1967. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Frederick Hammersley notes on “An idea”, between 1948 and 1971.
Charles Green Shaw. The bohemian dinner, 19–. Charles Green Shaw papers, 1833-1979. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
In his letter, conceptual artist Mel Bochner thanks Ellen Johnson for her support of his artwork and for “a pleasant two days” spent at Oberlin College in Ohio. Mel Bochner. Mel Bochner, New York, N.Y. letter to Ellen H. Johnson, 1972 Apr. 21. Ellen Hulda Johnson papers, 1872-2018. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
List of costumes for four characters in an unidentified production. Fabric samples corresponding to each of the costumes are pinned to the page, 1948. Leo Van Witsen. Costume list, 1948 Nov. 6. Lillian and Frederick Kiesler papers, circa 1910s-2003. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Memo submitted to Bates Lowry, director of the Museum of Modern Art on behalf of a group of artists addressing artists’ rights at the museum. 13 demands, 1969 Jan. 28. Virginia Admiral papers, 1945-1978. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Annotated list of seventeen works included in the Paintings by Bob Rauschenberg exhibition in New York, May 14 – June 2, 1951. Robert Rauschenberg. Exhibition checklist, 1951 May 14. Betty Parsons Gallery records and personal papers, 1916-1991. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Via: ListGeeks, Smithsonian
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