Artwork
Manaos (Manaus) 1952
Manaos (Manaus) 1952 is a drawing by Saul Steinberg. It dates from 1976 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Manaos (Manaus) is a 1952 drawing by Saul Steinberg, featuring two juxtaposed building scenes set in imaginative landscapes, inspired by the artist's trip to Brazil that same year.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing critiques modernist architecture (notably Bauhaus) in its upper section through exaggerated forms, while both scenes incorporate abstracted elements, reflecting Steinberg's transformation of memory into stylized compositions.
Technique & Style
Executed in pencil and colored pencil, the work blends realistic depictions (e.g., labeled buildings, buses) with abstract influences from Cubism and the works of Arp, evident in cloud forms and voids.
History & Provenance
Created post-trip in 1952, the piece is characteristic of Steinberg's postcard-inspired studies, though specific provenance details are not provided here.
Context
Reflects mid-20th-century artistic dialogues between realism, Cubism, and abstract influences, as well as Steinberg's unique travel-inspired, memory-driven creative process.
Legacy
Contributes to Steinberg's oeuvre of imaginative, critically inclined works that blur the lines between memory, architecture, and abstract art, inviting viewers to explore the interplay between realism and stylization.
Artist & collection
Artist
Ever seen a line that looks like a face before you realize it’s a street map? That’s Saul Steinberg’s party trick—he turned the whole world into a doodle. The guy spent decades sketching New York’s subway grates,…
