Man Reading a Newspaper

1918

Joseph Stella

(American, 1877–1946)

Culture

America

Medium

Charcoal and newspaper collage on modern laid paper

Measurements

Sheet: 38.7 x 40 cm (15 1/4 x 15 3/4 in.)

Credit Line

Purchased with funds from the Estate of Muriel Butkin 2024.31

This artwork is known to be under copyright.

Location

Not on view

Did You Know?

Joseph Stella referred to his collages—such as Man Reading a Newspaper—as “natural machines.”

Description

Man Reading a Newspaper aligns with Joseph Stella’s deep interest in depicting the motion and experiences specific to the city. Amid the collage’s overlapping shapes, the artist depicted visual clues that allow his subject to be identified, including his white collar, the brim of his hat and, most significantly, a piece of newspaper affixed to the sheet. An immigrant from Italy to the United States to pursue a medical degree, Stella soon abandoned his studies in favor of a career and became part of the active vanguard scene in New York City during the early decades of the 20th century.