Potpourri
Anthony Caro
Audio Tour
1976-77
MATERIAL: metal: steel, welded, rusted and varnished
DIMENSIONS: overall: 57 in x 132 in x 104 in
EDITION: Unique
CREDIT: Grounds For Sculpture, Gift of The Seward Johnson Atelier
© Artist's Estate, photo: dmh Photography
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Caro’s work began to transition into abstraction in the 1960s. On his first trip to the United States in 1959, he became acquainted with the works of David Smith and appreciated Smith’s break from traditional sculptural materials, choosing instead to fabricate his assemblages of steel and iron. Welding steel, essentially using found objects from the world and turning them into sculpture, was a turning point for Caro and many other artists at that time.
'Potpourri', dated 1976-77, is of welded steel assembled with larger horizontal planes in the front leading to a central opening with a multitude of smaller fragments imploding into the composition. The unpainted finish is typical of Caro's work from this period. In a further break with convention, Caro eliminated the use of bases and placed his works directly on the ground.
