Created by Joseph Cornell in 1948, “Untitled (Paul and Virginia)” is a work that exemplifies the Surrealism movement. This installation art piece dimensions are 12 1/2 x 9 15/16 x 4 3/8 inches. These figures underscore the profound approach Cornell took towards assembling his three-dimensional compositions, which frequently evoked narratives and emotions through the juxtaposition of found objects and images.
The artwork features a wooden box construction that combines found objects, printed paper, and glass to create an enigmatic tableau. The left side of the piece is dominated by an aged, printed paper with text and illustrations depicting scenes related to Paul and Virginia, characters from a popular eighteenth-century novel by Jacques-Henri Bernardin de Saint-Pierre. This choice of backdrop infuses the work with romantic and nostalgic elements.
On the right, the box is segmented into two main compartments, with a smaller niche above. At the top, behind glass, there is a dreamlike arrangement of blue-toned prints and objects that evoke the sense of an underwater scene or celestial bodies. Below that, a row of bright blue glass cubes sits above a circular opening, which frames a nest containing an egg, perhaps referencing themes of birth, potential, or shelter.
The combination of the narrative element on the left with the abstract and symbolic compositions on the right demonstrates Cornell’s dexterity in creating new contexts and meanings through the assemblage of disparate elements. The intricate layering of materials and references translates into a rich sensory and intellectual experience, characteristic of Cornell’s oeuvre and Surrealist objectives.
