© Estate of Richard Serra / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
Currently not on view
The Hedgehog and the Fox,
2000
Richard Serra, 1938–2024; born San Francisco, CA; died Orient, NY; active New York, NY
PP618
Industrial yet sensual, this massive sculpture invites visitors to walk through its steel curves in order to experience art, space, and environment in a physical way. The title, taken from an Isaiah Berlin essay, quotes the Greek poet Archilochus: "The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one great thing." Serra extends this proposition as a question to students—will you be a fox or a hedgehog?
More About This Object
Information
Title
The Hedgehog and the Fox
Dates
2000
Maker
Medium
Cor-Ten steel
Dimensions
6 plates, overall dimensions approximately 13' 6" high x 84' length x 26' width
Credit Line
Princeton University, gift of Peter T. Joseph, Class of 1972 and Graduate School Class of 1973, in honor of his children, Danielle and Nicholas
Object Number
PP618
Signatures
Unsigned
Culture
Type
Materials
Subject
- Jane McCarthy and Laurily K. Epstein, A guide to the sculpture parks and gardens of America, (New York, NY: Michael Kesend Pub., 1996).
- John Wilmerding et al., American Art in the Princeton University Art Museum: volume 1: drawings and watercolors, (Princeton: Princeton University Art Museum; New Haven, CT; London: Yale University Press, 2004), p. 270, cat. no. 70; p. 271 (illus.); p. 338, checklist no. 811
- Karin Dienst, ed., Sculpture of Princeton University: including works from the John B. Putnam Jr. Memorial Collection, (Princeton, NJ: Published by the Office of Communications, in association with the Princeton University Art Museum, 2004)., p. 36–37 (illus.)
