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Womb

1960–62

Images

A 45 by 16 3/4 by 16 inch sculpture of a wooden beam with a haunched tenon, on a wooden base. The bottom half of the sculpture has been left bare, and an iron wheel has been affixed to the right and left sides. At the bottom of the upper half is a yellow painted band, with the work's title, "Womb," painted in red stenciled letters. Above this are four circles containing an arrow, on a black ground. The top row contains a blue circle with a yellow arrow pointing downwards, and a green circle with a red arrow pointing to the left; and the bottom row contains a red circle with a green arrow pointing to the right, and a yellow circle with a blue arrow pointing upwards.

Womb

1960–62

Gesso, oil, iron, and iron wheels on wood

45 × 16 3/4 × 16 in. (114.3 × 42.6 × 40.6 cm)

 

Photo: Courtesy of Sotheby's, New York; Artwork: © Star of Hope Foundation, Vinalhaven, Maine

Letter from Ray Jonson to Indiana referencing the word "womb" being removed from Indiana's sculpture in a photograph published in the February 1970 issue of House Beautiful,  

Letter from Ray Jonson to Indiana referencing the word "womb" being removed from Indiana's sculpture in a photograph published in the February 1970 issue of House Beautiful

 

Courtesy Star of Hope Foundation, Vinalhaven, Maine

Robert Indiana's journal entry for April 10, 1961, featuring a sketch of Womb

Robert Indiana's journal entry for April 10, 1961

 

Courtesy Star of Hope Foundation, Vinalhaven, Maine

Detail from Robert Indiana's journal entry for April 20, 1961,  

Detail from Robert Indiana's journal entry for April 20, 1961

 

Courtesy Star of Hope Foundation, Vinalhaven, Maine

Installation view of Robert Indiana: Beyond LOVE, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, September 26, 2013–January 5, 2014,  

Installation view of Robert Indiana: Beyond LOVE, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, September 26, 2013–January 5, 2014

 

Photo: Tom Powel Imaging

Description

And Womb's a piece that, it was fun because I was once featured, I had the cover of House Beautiful [February 1970]. And inside there was a double page spread of my construcions, and when I asaw the proofs everything was fine, but when the magazine was published the word womb was deleted. Obviously too much for the housewives of Middle America or something, you see.

— Robert Indiana

Excerpt from Robert Indiana, Lecture in conjunction with the exhibition Wood Works: Constructions by Robert Indiana, Washington, D.C., May 3, 1984, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

 

Womb is currently on display in Robert Indiana: The Sweet Mystery, at the Procuratie Vecchie, Venice.