The Tunnel

1968

George Segal American, 1924 - 2000

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Markings

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Provenance

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Published References

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Catalogue Raisonné

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Credit Line for Reproduction

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About the Artwork

Despite its title, this combination of plaster, scrap wood, and galvanized iron refers to demolition rather than construction. It represents that familiar sidewalk device of doors and lumber discards shielding pedestrians from flying debris. Typically, Segal juxtaposes a plaster figure cast from life with a found, but reconstructed, elemental contraption to create a sculpture that questions the viewer's assumptions about reality and art.

Title The Tunnel

Artwork Date 1968

Artist George Segal

Life Dates 1924 - 2000

Nationality Please note: Definitions for nationality may vary significantly, depending on chronology and world events. Some definitions include: Belonging to a people having a common origin based on a geography and/or descent and/or tradition and/or culture and/or religion and/or language, or sharing membership in a legally defined nation. American

Culture Please note: Cultures may be defined by the language, customs, religious beliefs, social norms, and material traits of a group. ----------

Medium Plaster and mixed media

Dimensions Overall: 86 × 168 × 56 inches (218.4 cm × 4 m 26.7 cm × 142.2 cm)

Classification Sculpture

Department Contemporary Art after 1950

Credit Founders Society Purchase, Miscellaneous Gifts Fund

Accession Number This unique number is assigned to an individual artwork as part of the cataloguing process at the time of entry into the permanent collection. Most frequently, accession numbers begin with the year in which the artwork entered the museum’s holdings. For example, 2008.3 refers to the year of acquisition and notes that it was the 3rd of that year. The DIA has a few additional systems—no longer assigned—that identify specific donors or museum patronage groups. 70.658

Markings

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Provenance

1970-present, purchase by the Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit, Michigan, USA)

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Exhibition History

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The exhibition history of a number of objects in our collection only begins after their acquisition by the museum, and may reflect an incomplete record.

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Published References

van der Marck, Jan. George Segal. New York, 1975, p. 41 (detail ill.), (pls. 10, 102), [as "The Construction Tunnel"].

“Family Art Game.” Detroit Free Press, April 27, 1980, p. 14, [DIA Advertising Supplement].

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Catalogue Raisoneé

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Credit Line for Reproduction

George Segal, The Tunnel, 1968, plaster and mixed media. Detroit Institute of Arts, Founders Society Purchase, Miscellaneous Gifts Fund, 70.658.

No Available Image

Untitled

Multiple makers

1973

Helen III

Multiple makers

1987

Man in Green Doorway

George Segal

1972

BELEG: Artworks Of The Second Half Of The 20th Century owned by the city of Monchengladbach (Kunstwerke Der Zweiten Halfte Des20. Jahrhunderts aus Dem Besitz Der Stadt Monchengladbach)

Multiple makers

1967

Insertion Band

American

early 20th century

No Available Image

Pattern and Sample Book for Girl's Clothing

Mary Cummings

between 1910 and 1935

No Available Image

Scarf

American

1925

No Available Image

Pink Bouquet

Anonymous

1928

No Available Image

Coat

Elizabeth Hawes

1937

No Available Image

Dress

Elizabeth Hawes

1937

No Available Image

Dress

American

c. 1947

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The Tunnel

About the Artwork

Markings

Provenance

Exhibition History

Published References

Catalogue Raisoneé

Credit Line for Reproduction

More by Artist

Untitled

Helen III

Man in Green Doorway

BELEG: Artworks Of The Second Half Of The 20th Century owned by the city of Monchengladbach (Kunstwerke Der Zweiten Halfte Des20. Jahrhunderts aus Dem Besitz Der Stadt Monchengladbach)

Related Works

Insertion Band

Pattern and Sample Book for Girl's Clothing

Scarf

Pink Bouquet

Coat

Dress

Dress

Feedback