Saul Steinberg: On the Table | drawings, prints & carved wood objects

The exhibition presents Steinberg’s multidimensional exploration of still life in drawing, lithography and wood relief sculpture, dating from the time he built his East Hampton studio in 1970 until his death in 1999.  His colored pencil drawings of tabletop arrangements depict casual setups of art supplies, apples, vases of flowers, postcards of Matisse and Braque paintings, and beloved tin toys, family photographs, and a miniature porcelain vase he drew and carved repeatedly. The charm and nostalgia in these drawings is palpable and enduring.

 

The six large lithographs of intricate still lifes from 1970 reveal Steinberg’s mastery of yet another medium.  Actual postcards of a favorite Cubist Braque, a lush Matisse still life, and even an authentic Japanese wood cut are collaged onto the complex multi-plate lithographs compositions, a witty play on trompe l'oeil. During the process of building his studio, Steinberg found inspiration in the discarded scrap wood, shingles and lumber, asking his carpenters to cut various blocks and shapes for use in the Table Top Reliefs he explored for two decades. One of those on view, titled Cabinet, was featured in his one-person show at the Whitney Museum in 1978. Steinberg also began to carve and whittle faux wood objects often embellishing them with colored drawing.  Included in the array on display are books, a pencil box, hinged secret boxes, and decorative forms he would sometimes glue to larger montages.