Objects of Desire: The Modern Still Life

May 25–Aug 26, 1997

MoMA

Man Ray. Gift. 1958; replica of 1921 original. Painted flatiron with row of thirteen tacks, heads glued to the iron’s bottom, 6 1/8 × 3 5/8 × 4 1/2″ (15.3 × 9 × 11.4 cm). James Thrall Soby Fund. © 2016 Man Ray Trust / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / ADAGP, Paris

An examination of the radical evolution in the treatment of space, color, form, composition, and expression in this genre during the 20th century.

  • View the exhibition website

    • Publications

    • Objects of Desire: The Modern Still Life Margit Rowell, 1997 Exhibition catalogue, Clothbound, 232 pages
    • Objects of desire : the modern still life Margit Rowell, 1997 Out of print, 242 pages
    • Objects of desire : the modern still life : May 25-August 26, 1997, the Museum of Modern Art, New York 1997 Out of print, 6 pages
    • Master checklist 30 pages
    • Press release 6 pages

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