Tom Wesselmann Tiny Dropped Bra is a three-dimensional work on paper. The small artworks originally served as studies for the artist’s large steelcuts.

Tom Wesselmann was an American artist known for his contributions to the Pop Art movement. Maquettes, in the context of Wesselmann’s work, refer to a series of small-scale, three-dimensional studies or models he created in preparation for his larger, two-dimensional artworks. These maquettes played a crucial role in his artistic process and helped him plan and visualize the final compositions of his paintings and sculptures.

Here’s how Wesselmann used maquettes in his art:

Conceptualization: Wesselmann began his creative process by sketching ideas and concepts for his artworks. Once he had a clear vision of what he wanted to create, he would make small, three-dimensional maquettes to experiment with different compositions and arrangements of objects, figures, and elements.

Scale and Proportion: Maquettes allowed Wesselmann to experiment with the scale and proportion of the elements within his artworks. He could rearrange and resize components to achieve the desired visual impact and balance within his larger pieces.

Material Exploration: The maquettes helped Wesselmann explore different materials and textures. He could test various materials and surfaces to determine how they would interact with light, color, and shadow. This experimentation with materials was essential to achieve the desired aesthetic and tactile qualities in his final works.

Composition and Color: Wesselmann used maquettes to experiment with the placement of objects and the color palette of his artworks. He could arrange and rearrange components until he achieved a composition that satisfied his artistic vision.

Spatial Arrangement: These models allowed Wesselmann to play with the spatial relationships between objects, figures, and backgrounds. He could adjust the depth, perspective, and overall spatial arrangement to create a dynamic and engaging final composition.

Once Wesselmann had fine-tuned his ideas and designs using the maquettes, he would then translate his vision into large-scale paintings, sculptures, and mixed-media works. The maquettes were an important part of his artistic process, helping him bring his distinctive Pop Art style to life.

Tom Wesselmann’s art often featured everyday objects, such as household items, food, and female nudes, presented in a bold and colorful manner. His work was characterized by its use of flat planes, bright colors, and a sense of eroticism. Wesselmann’s innovative approach to art, including his use of maquettes, contributed to the evolution of Pop Art in the 1960s and made him a prominent figure in the art world.

Object. Bristol cardboard and Liquitex acrylic paint on cardboard. Mounted in object box. Signed and titled “# 15” on verso. Handwritten date, title and inscription on verso of object box. Approx. 8 x 12.8 x 5 cm (3.1 x 5 x 1.9 in). Object box: 15.5 x 20.9 x 10.9 cm (6.1 x 8.2 x 4.2 in). The work is listed in the archive of Tom Wesselmann Studio, New York. Provenance: Sidney Janis Gallery, New York (on the stand of the object box with the gallery label).