An unidentified man with "The Thinker" at the Birger SandzeÌn Memorial Gallery
Dublin Core
Title
An unidentified man with "The Thinker" at the Birger SandzeÌn Memorial Gallery
Subject
Animal sculpture--20th century.
Apes in art
Bronze sculpture, American--20th century.
Fredericks, Marshall M., 1908-1998
Apes in art
Bronze sculpture, American--20th century.
Fredericks, Marshall M., 1908-1998
Description
Fredericks created this sculpture at the request of George Gough Booth, the founder of Cranbrook Educational Community, who wanted a “Thinker†for the steps of the Cranbrook Art Museum similar to Auguste Rodin’s renowned Thinker, a cast of which is on the steps of the Detroit Institute of Arts.
Fredericks’ replacement of Rodin’s heroic male nude with a bemused chimpanzee stroking his chin is a thought provoking variation on the earlier statue. Fredericks' choice of a chimpanzee reveals his fondness for primates.
Fredericks indicated that he “tried different human figures for about a month, but couldn’t come up with the right Thinker. Mr. Booth came to my studio and saw this chimpanzee I was carving in my spare time and he said, ‘This is my Thinker. He’s probably thinking far more interesting thoughts than we are.’â€
Fredericks’ replacement of Rodin’s heroic male nude with a bemused chimpanzee stroking his chin is a thought provoking variation on the earlier statue. Fredericks' choice of a chimpanzee reveals his fondness for primates.
Fredericks indicated that he “tried different human figures for about a month, but couldn’t come up with the right Thinker. Mr. Booth came to my studio and saw this chimpanzee I was carving in my spare time and he said, ‘This is my Thinker. He’s probably thinking far more interesting thoughts than we are.’â€
Source
Marshall M. Fredericks Papers
Series V, Box 22 Folder 7
Series V, Box 22 Folder 7
Date
n.d.
Rights
Use of this image requires permission from the Marshall M. Fredericks Archives.
Relation
V-22-07
Format
image/jpeg
Type
Image
Coverage
Lindsborg (Kan.)
Still Image Item Type Metadata
Original Format
Color print
Physical Dimensions
3.5" x 5"
Files
Collection
Citation
“An unidentified man with "The Thinker" at the Birger SandzeÌn Memorial Gallery,” Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum, accessed November 21, 2024, https://omeka.svsu.edu/items/show/3469.