Infinite Blue

The works of art in Infinite Blue feature blue in all its variety—a fascinating strand of visual poetry running from ancient times to the present day. In cultures dating back thousands of years, blue—the color of the skies—has often been associated with the spiritual but also signifies power, status, and beauty. The spiritual and material aspects of blue combine to tell us stories about global history, cultural values, technological innovation, and international commerce.

This cross-departmental survey includes objects from our holdings of Asian, African, Egyptian, American, Native American, and European art, among them paintings, sculpture, prints, drawings, the decorative arts, illuminated manuscripts, printed books, and contemporary art. It will expand as subsequent chapters unfold, eventually almost filling our first floor.

caption: Joseph Stella (American, born Italy, 1877-1946). The Virgin, 1926. Oil on canvas, 39 11/16 x 38¾ in. (100.8 x 98.4 cm). Brooklyn Museum; Gift of Adolph Lewisohn, 28.207.  © 2016 Joseph Kosuth / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)