Egg on Block, 1923

About the Work

To Paul Outerbridge, a small chicken egg posed a great challenge. In this case it meant taking 4,000 photos before he was satisfied with the form and surface. Objects were of primary importance to the perfectionist. He worked on their representation until they had an animate and unique quality. As if it were an objet trouvé – something found by chance – he presents the egg on a small block, raising the everyday to the status of an artwork. In the 1920s, Outerbridge was particularly successful in photographing objects for advertising.