Joseph Cornell's theater of the mind: selected diaries, letters, and files

Abstract

Joseph Cornell's reputation has only grown since his death in 1973. His boxes - stuffed with such objects as flowers, buttons and toys - are among the most unique achievements in the modernist canon. His life seems as mysterious as his boxes. For virtually all of his adult existence, he lived in New York with his mother and brother, amid the mass of materials he had accumulated. Though he showed his work regularly, his isolation and eccentric force made him appear an idiot savant. This is a selection of his diaries and other writings. Cornell used his diaries as he used his boxes, to hold and preserve his feelings. We see here his deep immersion in French Symbolist poetry, and his intense interest in his Surrealist contemporaries. We also see his poignant yearning for les sylphides, the fairies of the ballet world. He also corresponded with an astonishing range of people, including Marianne Moore, Tony Curtis and Susan Sontag. His letters were often sent as collages, several of which are reproduced.