Label TextAlthough known as a sculptor, Smith has always been aligned with Abstract Expressionist painters such as Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, and Willem de Kooning, even stating “I belong with the painters.” He believed the only difference between painting and sculpture was the addition of a third dimension, and his works are often described as drawings in space. Zig II comes from a series inspired by ancient architecture (“zig” is short for “ziggurat,” a Mesopotamian precursor to the pyramid) and monumental guardian-like figures. This work falls into the figurative category, and bears some resemblance to totem-like forms used by both the Surrealists and the later Abstract Expressionist painters influenced by them. The vertical orientation, large torso-like red square, and small, pointed legs all suggest a human form that towers over the viewer. Unlike many sculptures, Zig II is meant to be viewed from the front, adding to the idea that it presents a “face” to the viewer. Formally, the work is a study of balance and contrast, blending curves and straight lines, horizontals and verticals, and various colors. Energetic brushstrokes enhance the hand-made quality of this welded sculpture and illustrate the close connection the artist felt with painting.
Exhibition History"The Abstract Tradition in American Art," Des Moines Art Center, Dec. 7, 1991 - Feb. 23, 1992
"David Smith," organized by the Kunstammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Dusseldorf, West Germany, Mar. 13 - Apr. 27, 1986; (Circulated to: Stadelsches Kunstinstitut, Frankfurt am Main, West Germany, June 19 - Sept. 28, 1986; Whitechapel Art Gallery, London, England, Nov. 7, 1986 - Jan. 4, 1987)
"David Smith," National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., Nov. 7, 1982 - Apr. 24, 1983
"David Smith," The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, N.Y., Mar. 29 - May 11, 1969; (Circulated to: Dallas Musuem of Fine Arts, TX, June 25 - Sept. 1, 1969; The Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., Oct. 11 - Dec. 7, 1969)
"David Smith 1906-1965," Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, Sept. 28 - Nov. 15, 1966; (Circulated to the Washington Gallery of Modern Art, Washington, D.C., Jan. 7 - Feb. 26, 1967)
"David Smith," The Hyde Collection, Glens Falls, N.Y., June 7 - Aug. 5, 1964
"Pittsburgh International Exhibition of Contemporary Painting and Sculpture," Carnegie Institute, Department of Fine Arts, Oct. 27, 1961 - Jan. 7, 1962
Published ReferencesEXHIBITION HISTORY:
Braziller, George. David Smith: Painter Sculptor Draftsman. NewYork: in association with the exhibition organized by the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington, D.C., 1982, ref. p.17 ("Zig II" not in exhibition).
Dorfles, Gillo. Attulita di David Smith. METRO, nos.4/5, 1962, ill. p.15 (outdoor grouping of Smith sculptures - caption to the photo reads "Works shown at Otto Gerson Gallery, New York, Oct., 1961).
Fogg Art Museum. David Smith 1906 - 1965. Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 1966, exh. cat. no.425.
Fry, Edward. David Smith. The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, N. Y., 1969, exh. cat. no.72, ref. p.125, color ill. p.124.
Merkert, Jörn. David Smith. München: Prestel-Verlag, 1986, exh. cat. no.35, color cover ill., color ill. p.29 (outdoor installation - same as cover).
National Gallery of Art. David Smith. Washington, D. C., 1982, exh. cat. no.2, p.106, ref. pp.49, 107 - 109, 111 - 116, 119, 121, inside front and back covers, color ill. pl. no.6, p.14 (outdoor installation photo), 2 ills. p.48, fig. no.25 (artist working on the sculpture), ill. p.112, fig.4 (outdoor installation photo), 3 ills. p.113 (2 photos in artist's studio, photo of artist painting the sculpture), ill. p.126 (outdoor installation photo).
Pittsburgh International Exhibition of Contemporary Painting and Sculpture. Carnegie Institute, Department of Fine Arts, 1961, exh. cat. no.522.
Smith, David, Jo?rn Merkert, Hannelore Kersting, and Rachel Kirby. David Smith, Sculpture and Drawings. Munich: Prestel, 1986, cover image, b/w image pg. 85.
Smith, David. David Smith: Sculpture and Drawings : Lower, Upper and New Galleries, 7 November 1986-4 January 1987. London: Whitechapel Art Gallery, 1986.
PUBLICATION HISTORY:
Art News, Vol. LX, December 1961, p. 32.
Bevlin, Marjorie Elliott. Design Through Discovery. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1970.
Carmean, Jr., E. A. "The Classical Abstraction of David Smith." Dialogue periodical published by the Editorial Office of the U.S. Information Agency, no.62, Apr. 1983, pp.13 - 23, color ill. p.18.
1972 ANNUAL REPORT, Central Bancshares, Inc., Des Moines, ill. p.8
Collischan, Judy. Welded Sculpture of the Twentieth Century. New York: Hudson Hills Press, Inc. in association with the Neuberger Museum of Art, Purchase, 2000, pp.27 & 28, ill. p.28.
Des Moines Art Center. An Uncommon Vision: The Des Moines Art Center. New York: Hudson Hills Press, 1998, ref. pp.34 & 263, color ill. p.263, b/w ill. pp.262 & 263.
Des Moines Art Center. Des Moines Art Center: Selected Paintings, Sculptures and Works on Paper. 1985, ref. pp.199 & 200, color ill. pl.XXX, p.126.
Des Moines Art Center Bulletin, Jan./Feb. 1973, cover ill.
Diamonstein, Barbaralee, ed., The Art World: A Seventy-Five Year Treasury of Art News. New York: Art News Book, 1977, color ill. p.311 (part of an outdoor group of works).
The Britannica Encyclopedia of American Art. Encyclopedia Britannica Eduction Corporation, Chicago, 1973, color ill. p.522.
Jacobs, Jay. "Portrait of the Artist." Art in America Nov.-Dec., 1968, pp.117 & 118, color ill. p.116.
Jobling, Peter. Sculpture: An Historical Handbook. (Tiranti, Ltd.) London.
Krauss, Rosalind E. The Sculpture of David Smith - A Catalogue Raisonne. New York and Londaon: Garland Publishing, Inc., 1977, ill. fig. no.532, p.97 (no page no. for ill.).
O'Hara, Frank. "David Smith: The Color of Steel," Art News vol. 60, no. 8, 1961, ill. p.32 (outdoor installation photo - referred to as "Zigguart II").
Smith, David, and Cleve Gray. DAVID SMITH. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1968, color ill. p.113.
Smith, David, and Garnett McCoy. David Smith. New York: Praeger, 1973, color ill. p.35, pl. no.3.
Art at Auction, the Year at Sotheby Parke-Bernet 1972-73, Viking Press, 1973, ill. pl.162.
Important Post - War and Contemporary Art. Sotheby Parke-Bernet Inc., N.Y., Public Auction, Oct. 26, 1972, color ill. pl. no.16.
Storr, Robert. "David Smith: Heroic or Protean?." Art In America Oct. 1983, color ill. p.147 (installation photo).
Tuchman, Phyllis. "In Detail: David Smith and Cub! XXVII." Portfolio Jan./Feb. 1983, ref. p.81, color ill. p.79.
Exhibition History"The Abstract Tradition in American Art," Des Moines Art Center, Dec. 7, 1991 - Feb. 23, 1992
"David Smith," organized by the Kunstammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Dusseldorf, West Germany, Mar. 13 - Apr. 27, 1986; (Circulated to: Stadelsches Kunstinstitut, Frankfurt am Main, West Germany, June 19 - Sept. 28, 1986; Whitechapel Art Gallery, London, England, Nov. 7, 1986 - Jan. 4, 1987)
"David Smith," National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., Nov. 7, 1982 - Apr. 24, 1983
"David Smith," The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, N.Y., Mar. 29 - May 11, 1969; (Circulated to: Dallas Musuem of Fine Arts, TX, June 25 - Sept. 1, 1969; The Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., Oct. 11 - Dec. 7, 1969)
"David Smith 1906-1965," Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, Sept. 28 - Nov. 15, 1966; (Circulated to the Washington Gallery of Modern Art, Washington, D.C., Jan. 7 - Feb. 26, 1967)
"David Smith," The Hyde Collection, Glens Falls, N.Y., June 7 - Aug. 5, 1964
"Pittsburgh International Exhibition of Contemporary Painting and Sculpture," Carnegie Institute, Department of Fine Arts, Oct. 27, 1961 - Jan. 7, 1962
Published ReferencesEXHIBITION HISTORY:
Braziller, George. David Smith: Painter Sculptor Draftsman. NewYork: in association with the exhibition organized by the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington, D.C., 1982, ref. p.17 ("Zig II" not in exhibition).
Dorfles, Gillo. Attulita di David Smith. METRO, nos.4/5, 1962, ill. p.15 (outdoor grouping of Smith sculptures - caption to the photo reads "Works shown at Otto Gerson Gallery, New York, Oct., 1961).
Fogg Art Museum. David Smith 1906 - 1965. Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 1966, exh. cat. no.425.
Fry, Edward. David Smith. The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, N. Y., 1969, exh. cat. no.72, ref. p.125, color ill. p.124.
Merkert, Jörn. David Smith. München: Prestel-Verlag, 1986, exh. cat. no.35, color cover ill., color ill. p.29 (outdoor installation - same as cover).
National Gallery of Art. David Smith. Washington, D. C., 1982, exh. cat. no.2, p.106, ref. pp.49, 107 - 109, 111 - 116, 119, 121, inside front and back covers, color ill. pl. no.6, p.14 (outdoor installation photo), 2 ills. p.48, fig. no.25 (artist working on the sculpture), ill. p.112, fig.4 (outdoor installation photo), 3 ills. p.113 (2 photos in artist's studio, photo of artist painting the sculpture), ill. p.126 (outdoor installation photo).
Pittsburgh International Exhibition of Contemporary Painting and Sculpture. Carnegie Institute, Department of Fine Arts, 1961, exh. cat. no.522.
Smith, David, Jo?rn Merkert, Hannelore Kersting, and Rachel Kirby. David Smith, Sculpture and Drawings. Munich: Prestel, 1986, cover image, b/w image pg. 85.
Smith, David. David Smith: Sculpture and Drawings : Lower, Upper and New Galleries, 7 November 1986-4 January 1987. London: Whitechapel Art Gallery, 1986.
PUBLICATION HISTORY:
Art News, Vol. LX, December 1961, p. 32.
Bevlin, Marjorie Elliott. Design Through Discovery. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1970.
Carmean, Jr., E. A. "The Classical Abstraction of David Smith." Dialogue periodical published by the Editorial Office of the U.S. Information Agency, no.62, Apr. 1983, pp.13 - 23, color ill. p.18.
1972 ANNUAL REPORT, Central Bancshares, Inc., Des Moines, ill. p.8
Collischan, Judy. Welded Sculpture of the Twentieth Century. New York: Hudson Hills Press, Inc. in association with the Neuberger Museum of Art, Purchase, 2000, pp.27 & 28, ill. p.28.
Des Moines Art Center. An Uncommon Vision: The Des Moines Art Center. New York: Hudson Hills Press, 1998, ref. pp.34 & 263, color ill. p.263, b/w ill. pp.262 & 263.
Des Moines Art Center. Des Moines Art Center: Selected Paintings, Sculptures and Works on Paper. 1985, ref. pp.199 & 200, color ill. pl.XXX, p.126.
Des Moines Art Center Bulletin, Jan./Feb. 1973, cover ill.
Diamonstein, Barbaralee, ed., The Art World: A Seventy-Five Year Treasury of Art News. New York: Art News Book, 1977, color ill. p.311 (part of an outdoor group of works).
The Britannica Encyclopedia of American Art. Encyclopedia Britannica Eduction Corporation, Chicago, 1973, color ill. p.522.
Jacobs, Jay. "Portrait of the Artist." Art in America Nov.-Dec., 1968, pp.117 & 118, color ill. p.116.
Jobling, Peter. Sculpture: An Historical Handbook. (Tiranti, Ltd.) London.
Krauss, Rosalind E. The Sculpture of David Smith - A Catalogue Raisonne. New York and Londaon: Garland Publishing, Inc., 1977, ill. fig. no.532, p.97 (no page no. for ill.).
O'Hara, Frank. "David Smith: The Color of Steel," Art News vol. 60, no. 8, 1961, ill. p.32 (outdoor installation photo - referred to as "Zigguart II").
Smith, David, and Cleve Gray. DAVID SMITH. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1968, color ill. p.113.
Smith, David, and Garnett McCoy. David Smith. New York: Praeger, 1973, color ill. p.35, pl. no.3.
Art at Auction, the Year at Sotheby Parke-Bernet 1972-73, Viking Press, 1973, ill. pl.162.
Important Post - War and Contemporary Art. Sotheby Parke-Bernet Inc., N.Y., Public Auction, Oct. 26, 1972, color ill. pl. no.16.
Storr, Robert. "David Smith: Heroic or Protean?." Art In America Oct. 1983, color ill. p.147 (installation photo).
Tuchman, Phyllis. "In Detail: David Smith and Cub! XXVII." Portfolio Jan./Feb. 1983, ref. p.81, color ill. p.79.
DimensionsOverall: 100 1/2 × 59 1/4 × 33 1/2 in. (255.3 × 150.5 × 85.1 cm)
Accession Number 1972.89
Classificationssculpture
Copyright© Estate of David Smith/Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY
InscriptionsDavid Smith 2-18 1961 (back top edge lower left projection)
Zig II (front lower left projection)
Catalogue raisonnéTHE SCULPTURE OF DAVID SMITH - A CATALOGUE RAISONNE, by Rosalind E. Krauss, pub. by Garland Publishing, Inc., N.Y. and London, 1977, repro. fig. no. 532, p. 97 (no page no. shown for repro.)
ProvenanceDavid Smith Estate; (Malborough-Otto Gerson Gallery, New York); Norton Simon, Inc. Museum of Art, Fullerton, CA [purchased from the previous, 1968]; (Otto Gerson Gallery, New York); Des Moines Art Center [purchased from the previous, 1972]
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Audio tour related to Jackson Pollock exhibition with Laura Burkhalter, Associate Curator
