Eight Heads of Harvey Littleton

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.