Artist
Herbert Bayer (American, born Austria, 1900–1985)American, born Austria, 1900–1985
CultureAmerican
Titles
- Fotoplastic
- Metamorphosis
Date1936, printed before mid-1950s
MediumGelatin silver print
DimensionsImage: 3 9/16 × 4 9/16 in. (9 × 11.6 cm)
Sheet: 4 × 4 15/16 in. (10.2 × 12.5 cm)
Sheet: 4 × 4 15/16 in. (10.2 × 12.5 cm)
Credit LineThe Allan Chasanoff Photographic Collection
Object number91.378.4
Not on view
Explore Further
Department
PhotographySpecial Collections
Object Type
Imagine
a rushing crowd of cubes and spheres, cylinders and cones tumbling over one another
in a mad dash towards the light and open space of a rural
landscape. Herbert Bayer created just such a surreal scene using the techniques
of photomontage—cutting and pasting multiple photographs, airbrushing and
retouching them with paint, and eventually rephotographing his composition to
bring a visual unity to the whole. In doing so, Bayer challenged the idea that
photography could only record the reality in front of the camera’s lens.
ProvenanceAllan Chasanoff, New York; given to MFAH, 1991.
Exhibition History"Tradition and the Unpredictable: The Allan Chasanoff Photographic Collection," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Upper Jones and Wiess Galleries; January 16-March 27, 1994.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
Verso of Image .4 sheet:
1) Typed in black ink on white and red adhesive label, along top edge:
1936/7- metamorphosis
2) Stamped in black ink, to R of center: Galerie Die Brucke
Backerstr. 5
A. 1010 Wien (Austria)
3)SBTA, in pencil, center: Herbert Bayer
h e
?(erby) Fotgele...[illegible]
De B...[illegible]
Verso of mount stamped in black ink on blue adhesive label, LL corner: VDC
Verso of mount in pencil, UL corner: 1.80.356
Verso of mount in pencil, UR corner: Bayer
1) Typed in black ink on white and red adhesive label, along top edge:
1936/7- metamorphosis
2) Stamped in black ink, to R of center: Galerie Die Brucke
Backerstr. 5
A. 1010 Wien (Austria)
3)SBTA, in pencil, center: Herbert Bayer
h e
?(erby) Fotgele...[illegible]
De B...[illegible]
Verso of mount stamped in black ink on blue adhesive label, LL corner: VDC
Verso of mount in pencil, UL corner: 1.80.356
Verso of mount in pencil, UR corner: Bayer
Cataloguing data may change with further research.
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