Artist
Mira Schendel (Myrrha Dagmar Dub)(Brazilian, born Switzerland, 1919–1988)Brazilian, born Switzerland, 1919–1988
CultureBrazilian
Titles
- Sem título
- Untitled
Date1954
Made inSão Paulo, Brazil
MediumGesso, wood, tempera on wood
Dimensions20 1/8 × 26 in. (51.1 × 66 cm)
Credit LineThe Adolpho Leirner Collection of Brazilian Constructive Art, museum purchase funded by the Caroline Wiess Law Accessions Endowment Fund
Object number2005.472
Current Location
The Nancy and Rich Kinder Building
Gallery 204
On view
Explore Further
Department
Latin American ArtSpecial Collections
Object Type
produced this painting shortly after she immigrated to Brazil and was exposed
to Concrete art. It is based on formal geometric relationships, yet, the textured
surface, handdrawn lines, and uneven shapes evoke the sensorial and organic. By
incorporating rectangular pieces of wood onto the support, Schendel raises
questions about the nature of Concrete art in comparison to reality. As with
Dacosta’s Em vermelho, exhibited nearby, the superimposition of squares
produces spatial relationships that resemble architectural elements.
ProvenanceThe artist, São Paulo; Mário Schenberg (1914 - 1990) and Lourdes Cedran; Adolpho Leirner, São Paulo, May 1985; sold to MFAH, 2005.
Exhibition History"Projeto arte brasileira: abstração geométrica 2," Funarte, São Paulo, Brazil, June–July 1988.
"Mira Schendel," Museu de Arte Contemporânea da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil, November 1990–February 1991.
"Bienal Brasil Século XX," Fundação Bienal de São Paulo, Parque Ibirapuera, Brazil, April–May 1994.
"Mira Schendel: no vazio do mundo," Galeria de Arte do SESI, São Paulo, Brazil, September 1996–January 1997.
"Mira Schendel: a forma volátil," Centro de Arte Hélio Oiticica, Rio de Janeiro, June–July 1997.
"Arte construtiva no Brasil: Coleção Adolpho Leirner," Museu de Arte Moderna de São Paulo, Brazil, October–December 1998; Museu de Arte Moderna do Rio de Janeiro, January–March 1999.
"Beyond Geometry: experiments in form, 1940-70s," Los Angeles County Museum of Art, June–October 2004.
"Dimensions of Constructive Art in Brazil: The Adolpho Leirner Collection," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, May–September 2007.
"Tangled Alphabets: León Ferrari and Mira Schendel," The Museum of Modern Art, New York, New York, April 5–June 15, 2009.
"Constructed Dialogues: Concrete, Geometric, and Kinetic Art from the Latin American Art Collection," The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, September 16, 2012–January 6, 2013.
"Mira Schendel," Tate Modern, London,September 26, 2013–January 19. 2014; Fundação de Serralves - Museu de Arte Contemporânea, Porto, Portugal, February 28–July 24, 2014; Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo, Brazil, August 7–November 16, 2014.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
No inscriptions
Marked on recto lower left: Mira, MCMLIV
6 Printed back labels on verso:
1. Bienal Brasil Seculo.......
2. Fulvia E. Adolpho Leirner....
3. Fundação Nacional de Arte...
4. 101 Mira Schendel....
5. Titulo: Sem titulo.........
6. Sem Titulo, 19.......
Stamped on verso stretcher twice: 222
1. Bienal Brasil Seculo.......
2. Fulvia E. Adolpho Leirner....
3. Fundação Nacional de Arte...
4. 101 Mira Schendel....
5. Titulo: Sem titulo.........
6. Sem Titulo, 19.......
Stamped on verso stretcher twice: 222
Cataloguing data may change with further research.
If you have questions about this work of art or the MFAH Online Collection please contact us.
Mira Schendel (Myrrha Dagmar Dub)
1977
93 rice paper monotypes framed by plexiglass sheets and hung with acrylic thread
2004.1701.1-.93
Charlotte Major Wylie
c. 1893
Tempera and gesso, with silver and gold leaf, bone, pearl, agate and colored stone inlays, on a circular wood panel, set within an artist-made frame
2023.76
