Deserted Tenement (or, A Hornet's Nest)

Accession Number
1940.298

Title
Deserted Tenement (or, A Hornet's Nest)

Artist(s)
Warren Lombard

Artist Nationality
American (North American)

Object Creation Date
1935

Medium & Support
graphite on paper

Dimensions
8 7/8 in. x 12 in. ( 22.5 cm x 30.5 cm )

Credit Line
Gift of Prof. and Mrs. Alfred H. White

Subject matter
Lombard summered in Monhegan, Maine and developed much of his aesthetic and subject matter there. Monhegan was a well known artist colony that had existed since the mid-nineteenth century. This work is from the latter half of Lombard's career when he mainly created studies of botanical subjects on the island. This drawing's title suggests that Lombard is partaking in social commentary. In the early part of the 20th century, it was mainly immigrants who lived in tenement housing. Tenements were often overcrowded and in poor condition. The suggestion in this work may be that tenements are just as undesirable and unlivable as a hornet's nest is.

Eva Caston 2017

Physical Description
Drawing of a hornet's nest hanging from branch.

Eva Caston 2017

Primary Object Classification
Drawing

Collection Area
Western

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form. Keywords
Insects
branches
modern and contemporary art
nests
nests (animal architecture)
wasps

& Author Notes

All Rights Reserved