Jane Hammond (American, b. 1950)
The Hagiography of This Moment 1993
Oil and metal leaf on canvas
Gift of Andronike A. Tsagaris and John D. Hilberry and Museum Purchase with funds provided by the Edward J. Gallagher, Jr. Memorial Fund
2003.007.001a-b
How does a title influence your interpretation of an artwork? Does it enhance your understanding or limit your imagination?
What happens if someone besides the artist titles the work? This was a common occurrence in the past—often titles were added later (sometimes centuries later) by someone compiling an inventory list or by a museum curator. In the case of The Hagiography of This Moment, Jane Hammond commissioned poet John Ashbery to create a list of titles from which she would make artworks. Called The John Ashbery Collaboration, this series of paintings includes other quirky titles such as: Midwife to Gargoyles, Long-Haired Avatar, Freezer Burn, and Pumpkin Soup.
