Accession Number1972/1.168
TitleThe Star
Artist(s)Alvin Langdon CoburnArtist NationalityBritish (modern)Object Creation Date1907Medium & Supportphotogravure on paper Dimensions 8 3/16 in x 6 in (20.8 cm x 15.24 cm);14 3/8 in x 19 3/8 in (36.51 cm x 49.21 cm);8 3/4 in x 6 7/16 in (22.23 cm x 16.35 cm)
Credit LineMuseum PurchaseSubject matterThis photograph by Alvin Coburn was included in H.G. Wells' collection of short stories,
The Door in the Wall and Other Short Stories. This publication was a limited release of 600 copies, of which only 300 included photographs hand-pulled by Coburn. This was due to damage during shipping. The books were printed and assembled in Park Ridge, Illinois, at Goudy's Village Press, where Frederic Goudy produced his first of many successful typefaces, Kinnerly Old Style, specifically for this anthology. The book was printed by Mithcell Kennerley. Coburn's illustration, "The Star," accompanies a short story of the same name, in which a new star appears and collides with Neptune, then hurtles toward Earth, creating a catastrophic celestial event. This particular image references the men at sea, as they had no warning of the coming apocalypse.
Physical DescriptionA sailboat with its sails set aloft in the shape of two triangles is silhouetted against a cloudy sky illuminated by the sun. Reflections of the boat and sun reach into the foreground of the image toward the viewer.
Primary Object ClassificationPhotographCollection AreaPhotographyRightsIf 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
bodies of water (natural)
modern and contemporary art
reflections
sailboats
sails (equipment)
seascapes
suns
suns (stars)
water
wave pattern