Circe and Her Lovers (Surface and Volume in Nature) c. 1965

Joseph Cornell made this mixed media artwork, Circe and Her Lovers (Surface and Volume in Nature), layering images and objects to create a surreal, dreamlike scene. The composition feels very constructed, but also intuitive, almost like a collage unfolding in real time. The surface is so intriguing. The interplay of matte and glossy textures, the contrast between the smoothness of the painted areas and the roughness of the collaged elements. It's like Cornell is inviting us to touch, to feel, to experience the artwork with our senses. Look closely at how the edges of the collaged elements seem to lift from the surface, creating shadows and depth. Then there is this miniature chalkboard with an equation written on it. It is like a portal into Cornell's mind, a glimpse into his playful and poetic imagination. Cornell reminds me of Kurt Schwitters, another master of collage and assemblage. Both artists had this knack for transforming everyday materials into extraordinary works of art. They both embrace ambiguity and welcome multiple interpretations.