A is a matched numbered pair of Claes Oldenburg's Soft Light Bulbs Day and Night; Soft Light Bulb - Day, 1994; Lithograph with chine colle on Koller HMP Tan Canvas paper; Initialed CO in pencil bottom right and numbered 23/36 in pencil lower left; Published by Gemini G.E.L.; Framed floated on a black mat, a wood frame, and UV conservation clear glass; AND Soft Light Bulb - Night, 1994; Lithograph with chine colle on Dieu Donne Gray paper; Initialed CO in pencil bottom right and numbered 23/35 in pencil lower left; Published by Gemini G.E.L.; Framed floated on a black mat, a wood frame, and UV conservation clear glass. Both Gemini G.E.L original print documentation documents are included.
To purchase this work or to visit the Art Gallery, CLICK HERE
To purchase this work or to visit the Art Gallery, CLICK HERE
Claes Oldenburg has always been interested in the characteristics of soft and hard in relation to various objects. From MOMA in regards to the Oldenburg work, "Giant Soft Fan, 1966-67:"
"Here Oldenburg has rendered a hard object in a soft material so that it sags and droops, and he has greatly inflated its size. There is humor in this transformation of a hard machine into a collapsible object, and the result has a bodily and sexual connotation. There is also a subtle nostalgia: in its focus on the culture of its time, Pop art seemed jarringly up-to-date in the 1960s, but this fan’s design was old-fashioned even then."
With these works, "Soft Light Bulb Day & Night," the similarities with the "Giant Soft Fan" are apparent. The choice of subject matter is consistent, a light bulb with a simple turn dial on/off switch that is attached to a sagging uncovered electrical wire. The light bulb itself is soft and flattens on it's end as it rests on a hard surface. These two works are being sold as pair (the above image in a concatenated image of the two separate works) and the genius of Oldenburg can be seen when viewing them together.
Photograph of the framed "Soft Light Bulb Day"
With "Soft Light Bulb Day" the choice of paper is very specific, as it is a very light color, suggesting a daylight time of day. The black outlines of the wire, bulb, and surface are very apparent. What is not that noticeable is the white collage element with the black X; which represents the light from the electrified internal filament. In the "Day" version, either the power is not on or the light does not appear that bright because of the daylight conditions.
"Soft Light Bulb Night" is the opposite with all the black line elements much less observed on a grey-black paper; which symbolizes night time. However, the white collaged element marked with an X (with the electrical power on) now glows bright! The set of works are quite wonderful and are created in a very low edition size. The "Day" version is an edition of 36 and "Night" is in an edition of only 35; however this set is match numbered (23) with "Day" numbered 23/36 and "Night" numbered 23/35. Because the edition size is so small, this may be the only matched pair on the open market.
Photograph of the framed "Soft Light Bulb Night"
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