The artwork titled “Pincushion to Serve as Fetish,” crafted by Dorothea Tanning in 1965, is a notable piece belonging to the Surrealism art movement. This sculpture encapsulates the idiosyncratic and dream-like quality of the genre, presenting a unique visual experience to its viewers.
The sculpture is constructed with a strikingly abstract form, characterized by a dark, velvety surface punctuated with pins strategically placed across its contoured structure. The figure displays a fascinating interplay of smooth curves and sharp points, evoking a sense of organic fluidity juxtaposed with tension. The material composition and the embedded pins invite an association with both softness and adornment, as well as an underlying motif of subtle threat or ritualistic purpose. Overall, the work engenders a profound engagement with the mysterious and the fantastical, hallmarks of Tanning’s Surrealist oeuvre.
