Silvas Oil Company, Ventura, California
Artist
Robert von Sternberg
((b. 1939))
Datecreated 2012, printed 2016
Mediumarchival inkjet print
Dimensions13 × 19 inches (33 × 48.3 cm)
Image: 11 × 16 1/2 inches (27.9 × 41.9 cm)
Image: 11 × 16 1/2 inches (27.9 × 41.9 cm)
Credit LineGift of the Artist, 2016
Object number2016.8.5.2
ClassificationsPhotographs
Label TextVon Sternberg photographed an iconic form of American architecture. The service station has become a symbol of modern life. The nocturnal setting with bright lighting imparts an eerie mood. The absence of humans intensifies that feeling. Dimly in the background, the truck and the signage point to the function of the architecture. The sharp angles and bold diagonal view glorify the common structure. These elements emphasize its modernity. Will von Sternberg’s photograph become a nostalgic image if the gas station gives way to the charging station? Connect with E.M. Hennings’s The Faithful Ponies.
ProvenanceArtist; gifted July 13, 2016 to the Nelda C. and H.J. Lutcher Stark Foundation; accessioned to the Stark Museum of Art
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