Side view of "The Thinker" on the steps of Cranbrook Art Museum

Side view of "The Thinker" on the steps of Cranbrook Art Museum

Animal sculpture--20th century.
Apes in art
Cranbrook Educational Community
Fredericks, Marshall M., 1908-1998
Granite sculpture.
Outdoor sculpture--United States.
Public sculpture, American

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.’”

Marshall M. Fredericks Papers
Series V, Box 22 Folder 10

n.d.

Use of this image requires permission from the Marshall M. Fredericks Archives.

V-22-10

image/jpeg

Image

Bloomfield Hills (Mich.)

Black and white print

8" x 10"