Vija Celmins

Night Sky Woodcut

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About this artwork

Celmins's intense monochromatic images of the night sky, based on photographs, focus on small and individual marks in the context of vastness. The images seem fragile because they record a specific human glimpse through a telescope or camera which is ephemeral and frozen in time. Celmins's serial exploration of her subjects, including the night sky, allows the artist to exploit the distinct characteristics of the variety of media she uses. Celmins used nails and needles to make points of light throughout this woodcut print. The woodcut was printed on Japanese paper to give depth to the work.

Updated before 2020

  • artist:
    Vija Celmins (born 1938) American
  • title:
    Night Sky Woodcut
  • date created:
    1997
  • materials:
    Woodcut on paper mounted on paper
  • measurements:
    22.00 x 24.50 cm (paper 22.50 x 24.90 cm and 44.70 x 31.70 cm); Framed: 48.50 x 35.40 x 3.70 cm
  • object type:
  • credit line:
    ARTIST ROOMS National Galleries of Scotland and Tate. Acquired jointly through The d'Offay Donation with assistance from the National Heritage Memorial Fund and Art Fund, 2008
  • accession number:
    AR00480
  • gallery:
  • artwork photographed by:
    Antonia Reeve
This artwork is part of Artist Rooms
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Vija Celmins

Vija Celmins