Art in the United States

At the Whitney Museum of American Art

Virtually explore the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City with Smarthistory as your guide

Some background

• Understanding museums

videos + essays

Link to the Whitney Museum's website

David Wojnarowicz, Untitled (One Day This Kid . . .)

Having the young Wojnarowicz’s face disseminated as a visible queer child was a potent political symbol.

Ben Shahn, The Passion of Sacco and Vanzetti

Shahn makes an not-so-subtle comparison between Christ and two Italians executed for a crime they didn’t commit.

Eva Hesse, Untitled (Rope Piece)

This sculpture was hanging in the artist’s studio at the time of her death; it can be hung in numerous ways.

Robert Morris, (Untitled) L-Beams

Are these objects the same size? Morris challenges our perception.