Images(3)

Eight Heads of Harvey Littleton

Object Name8 Sculptures

Artist Erwin Eisch (German, 1927-2022)

Made FromGlass, Paint, Marble

Date1976

TechniqueMold-blown glass, enameled, assembled, cold painted, etched

SizeAssembled Dimensions Vary

Accession Number76.3.32

Curatorial Area(s)

Postwar and Contemporary

Exhibitions

Masters of Studio Glass: Erwin Eisch

Interpretive Notes

Web Text

Erwin Eisch (b. 1927) is a painter and sculptor whose original work in glass made a profound impression during the formative years of the Studio Glass movement. Eisch met the studio glass pioneer Harvey Littleton in 1962. Through their friendship, an important link was established between European and American studio artists working in glass. Eight Heads of Harvey Littleton is Eisch’s multiple portrait of Littleton. Each mold-blown and enameled head represents a different aspect of the artist’s personality. These heads, from left to right, are titled Littleton the Spirit; Littleton the Gentleman; Littleton the Fragile; Littleton, Man of Frauenau; “Technique Is Cheap”; Littleton’s Headache; Littleton the Poet; and Littleton the Worker. “Technique Is Cheap” refers to Littleton’s widely quoted aphorism that urged artists to concentrate on the artistic content of their work, rather than on glassworking techniques.

Place Made

Federal Republic of Germany, Frauenau

Physical DescriptionColorless glass; cold painted. (A) Littleton the Gentleman: mirrored inside, with glasses, with marble base. (B) Littleton the Poet: with glasses and beanie. (C) Littleton the Teacher: mirrored inside, glassblower painted on right side of head; set on square black base. (D) Littleton, Man of Frauenau: cold painted in facial area and around base with scene of town. (E) Littleton the Worker: applied band of colorless glass across nose and around head, square black base. (F) Littleton's Headache: painted with bandages surrounding head and chin area, etched in other areas, square black base. (G) Littleton the Fragile. (H) Littleton's Spirit: with collar and tie.
Provenance

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