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Christopher Navarrete Professor Trofimova Art History 5/13/2018
Cooper Hewitt Paper
From the outside, the Cooper Hewitt museum appeared to be quite large because there were several buildings that seemed to
connect with one another. When I approached the museum, the logo that rested on the fence immediately caught my eye
because it was almost 3D. I had never seen anything like that in person, so it surprised me so much that I took a photo (above).
Beyond the fence, there lay the garden and café. In the garden, museum-goers are able to sit down and relax as there were
several chairs and benches laid out. Unfortunately, I came to the museum on a rainy day, so no one was outside. Despite this,
the garden didn’t seem very special as it lacked any kind of flowers and trees (it was mostly just a grassy area). I then went
inside the small café and realized the museum seemed much smaller on the inside; the corridors were tight and packed with
customers. Because it was the morning, the room was filled with the sweet aroma of coffee.
After walking out of the café, there was an area where people could hold and buy items (I believe this was the museum shop).
There were jewelry necklaces, various books and some art items. For example, there was a sheet of cloth that had a light bulb
penetrating it. Surprisingly, such a simple piece cost around 250 dollars to purchase. Vases and other furniture-like items where
displayed in long glass containers too. There may have been some items for children too because it was especially packed with
elementary students. Next-door was a small lounge area that had large windows surrounding it. Customers mostly found
themselves using this room to read books that were in the shop.
I then went to admissions and purchased a student ticket, which came with the Cooper Hewitt sticker. I was told that I was
given access to the three floors. The first floor had a white room with several technology based items such as old telephones,
calculators and an iPhone. In the center of the room was a red and black motorcycle that seemed to be used for racing. Also,
the first floor had several areas dedicated to accessibility technologies, such as a wheel chair. There was also a white wall with
images of cubes that gave off an amazing 3D effect. Unfortunately, unlike the other museum attendees, I did not have 3D
glasses, so I could not see the full effect of the artwork.
In the second and third floors, there was an area that had several miniature hand-made structures. They were mostly wooden
and architectural based as they depicted staircases and parts of houses among others. This was easily my favorite display of the
Cooper Hewitt museum because it was just breath taking. There was also a long wall with what appeared to be black fur. I am
not sure what animal it came from, but it was very soft and pleasing to touch. In addition, the museum contained several areas
dedicated to sense, smell, cognition, and colors. However, I did not stay in this area for long because I was more attracted to
the typographic pieces. One, for example, was of Paula Scher. Paula Scher is easily one of my favorite artists because her
designs are just bold and different. She tells a story and shows motion with the use of type.
Overall, my trip to the Cooper Hewitt museum was quite fun and interesting. I usually do not find museums to be very
compelling, but this one in particular held my attention as they had a variety of interesting design pieces. I would love to go
again and look at the pieces more closely in order to study them.
Christopher Navarrete Professor Trofimova Art History 5/13/2018
1. The Miller Blues Band Poster (1967) designed by Victor Moscoco
This poster is most likely from the psychedelic poster design movement, which originated in the late
1960s. It was a movement that was based off of drug and hippie culture. Pieces in this movement
generally sought out to tell a statement about society. They typically do this by using bright and vibrant
colors that contrast each other, hard to read type, curved lines, and using or manipulating pop culture
images. Psychedelic posters were commonly associated with rock music as they were used for several
bands, including the Miller Blues band (above). Notable artists in this design movement include Wes
Wilson, Victor Moscoco and Peter Max.
This poster displays the characteristics of the Psychedelic design movement in the following ways:
It was for a band (which is very common in this design movement).
It was created during the psychedelic poster movement craze (late 1960s.)
It uses a repetition of curved lines (this effect is inspired from psychedelic drugs).
It uses bright and vibrant contrasting colors (red and blue).
The type is somewhat difficult to read.
It uses a real-life image and manipulates it (the colors are removed and replaced with a high
contrast red).
Christopher Navarrete Professor Trofimova Art History 5/13/2018
2. Ewer (1800) manufactured by Sevres Porcelain Manufactory.
This vase appears to follow the guidelines from the Art Nouveau design movement. The Art Nouveau
movement was very popular during the 1890s through 1910. It was generally nature based in its design
and color as pieces were very organic and plantlike. For example, an artwork may use various flowers,
birds, vines and female faces. The movement can be traced in Japan as Ukyo-e, which translates to
“pictures of the floating world.” Ukyo-e artists used woodblock print and made works realistic and
nature based pieces. The art nouveau style was used in architecture, furniture, fashion and
advertisements among others. Notable artists in this design movement include Aubrey Beardsley,
Eugene Grasset and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.
This vase displays the characteristics of the art nouveau design movement in the following ways:
It uses lines that seem to be based off of vines and flowers.
The vine-like lines are repeated throughout the vase.
Its colors appear to be very nature-like (lavender and green).
The handle of the vase has a smooth and swift curve that is reminiscent to nature.
Christopher Navarrete Professor Trofimova Art History 5/13/2018
3. Atoms for Peace Poster (1955) designed by Erik Nitsche.
This poster appears to have some hallmarks of the Bauhaus design movement. This movement
originated in Germany at the Bauhaus design school from 1919 to 1933. The school of Bauhaus was
popular during its time and created very simple and straight to the point artworks in architecture,
graphic design and product design among others. This modern design style was mostly created by
students and faculty.
Advocates of Bauhaus believed that their way of design was logical as it was geometrical and
minimalistic. One major hallmark of the Bauhaus style is the use of the Bauhaus type, a sans serf font
used almost exclusively for this movement. Famous artists in this design movement include Herbert
Bayer, Lazlo Moholy-Nagy and Joost Schmidt.
This poster displays the characteristics of the Bauhaus design movement in the following ways:
It is very minimalistic because there is only type and shapes.
It is straight to the point and clear in its message.
The background is plain and has a light brown color (common in Bauhaus posters).
It is geometric in its design because of the shapes.
There is a focus in color.
Christopher Navarrete Professor Trofimova Art History 5/13/2018
4. Prosthetic Leg Covers (2011) designed and manufactured by McCauley Wanner (Photo taken from
Cooper Hewitt website).
This piece is most likely is inspired by the Victorian era. The Victorian era began after Queen Victoria
took the throne in Great Britain from 1819 to 1901. This time period was seen as time for strong morals
and optimism. This design movement was often filled with pieces that contained several design choices
and philosophies that contradicted with one another. Overall, there is generally symmetry, dense design
and ornamental design in Victorian era graphic design.
This piece displays the characteristics of the Victorian era design movement in the following ways:
It is symmetrical in its design.
It appears to have an ornamental design style.
It is dense with design.
There is some contradiction in the design as several parts are very different from one another
(there are plant designs, rectangles, etc.).
Christopher Navarrete Professor Trofimova Art History 5/13/2018
5. Knoll International poster (1967) designed by Massimo
Vignelli.
This poster is most likely inspired from the international type style
design movement. The international type style (also known as the
Swiss style) originated in Switzerland and Germany during the
1950s. It is famous for placing design elements on a grid, having
information that is clear, and using sans serif type such as
Helvetica and Univers.
Overall, designers in this style believed clarity and order should be
the main priories in graphic design. Famous international type
style designers include Ernst Keller, Armin Hoffman and Emil
Ruder.
This poster displays the characteristics of the international typographic style design movement in the
following ways:
It is asymmetrical
It uses flush-left alignment.
It uses overlapping type.
The overlapping type is transparent.
It uses sans serif type.
The font used appears to be Helvetica (commonly used in international type style).
A grid may have been used (commonly used in international type style).
Christopher Navarrete Professor Trofimova Art History 5/13/2018
6. Chanin Building Pair of Gates (1928) designed by René Paul Chambellan (Photo taken from Cooper
Hewitt website).
This piece appears to have hallmarks from the Art Deco design movement. The art deco movement
began in France some time before World War I. It is very modern and high-end as it was associated with
wealth during its peak. As a result, it was commonly used in hotels, for example.
Art deco was generally used in architecture, graphic design, jewelry and fashion among others. Overall,
the art deco design movement is very geometrical as it mostly uses rectangular shapes, uses san serif
type, expensive material, and was very clean and simple in general.
This piece displays the characteristics of the art deco design movement in the following ways:
It uses rectangular geometric shapes.
It is symmetrical.
The material used appears to be expensive.
The design is very elaborate.
Christopher Navarrete Professor Trofimova Art History 5/13/2018
7. The Diva is Dismissed poster (1994) by Paula Scher
(photo taken from Cooper Hewitt website)
This piece likely takes some inspiration from the design
style movement known as Constructivism. Constructivism
began in the 1920s in Russia (after World War I). Artworks
during this time were very political and took inspiration
from cubism and futurism.
Constructivism pieces are famous for including black and
white images, red and yellow colors and san serif type
among others. Notable artists from this design movement
include El Lissitzky, Gustav Klutsis and Alexander
Rodchenko.
This poster displays the characteristics of the Russian constructivism design movement in the following
ways:
It uses the color yellow.
It has a photograph of a person in monotone.
The woman in the poster seems to yell the type.
The type is slanted.
The type is san serif and bold.
It has an asymmetrical design.
Christopher Navarrete Professor Trofimova Art History 5/13/2018
References
Cooper Hewitt website: https://www.cooperhewitt.org/
Meggs’ History of Graphic Design