work of the month



(click on image to enlarge)

Gianni Toso (Italian, b. 1942)
Chess Set, 1985
Glass, lampworked figures
Partial Gift of Dylan, Max, Jessica, and Leyla Sandler;
Fran and Lenox Baker; Allan Hugh McKinley and Jean Ritter Winslow;
Albert and Robbie Selkin; Dr. and Mrs. Edward C. Oldfield III;
the Chrysler Museum Glass Associates; and the Art Purchase Fund  


WHAT DO YOU SEE?

Below is a list of questions the Museum posed to our visitors, both in the Gallery and on-line. Highlights from the collected responses are posted here. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and ideas with us.

  • What questions arise for you as you view this work?
     • Why do the separate religions battle one another? Why is one of the Jewish pawns holding a baby?
     • Is the artist Jewish or Catholic?
     • How does he do this?
     • Does this suggest that religion is a catalyst for war and dissention?
     • Is it a religious intolerance expression?
     • What age was he working in?
     • Who made the art.
     • Who are the characters? How long did it take to do? Whose turn is it?
      • Variety and complexity of life.
  • What do you enjoy most about the work?
     • Fascinating, makes me smile, completely breakthrough, makes me want to play this moment. Each individual character is unique.
     • Detail, color, the differing postures of the pieces.
     • That it is created by glass.
     • All the colors.
     • I like the game chess and the colors — also the intricate details in each figure.
     • Detail — Amusing expressions.
     • Its humor and color as well as the political -religious aspects of the piece.
     • The creativity.
     • All of it - it's great. Fascinating.
     • The color personalities each side has, the intricate detail in the faces, hands, and all around. Also the cartoonish feel.
  • What do you dislike about this work?
     • Religion — Jews - Catholics, Jews vs. world, Catholics vs. world.…conversation could go on and on and on, and does by everyone everyday, but when I think of it from that confrontational religious us vs. them I get sad and no longer enjoy the piece.
  • Is there a story in this work for you? If so, what is the story you see in the work?
     • The Jews have a lot more fun than Catholics.
     • Old Testament vs. New Testament.
     • The arrogance of religion
     • Yes, a story about two religions battling against each other.
     • Story of life - one against the other.

     What do you think this work means or says?
     • As a child of differing religious parents, I think Tosso is attempting to show not only the struggle and conflict between religion and classes in the real world, but possibly also a struggle between his parents, and a struggle between Tosso and his parents.
     • Since chess is usually a strategy game--and one that functions to represent war and battles-- it seems that he is using religious figures or heads to be the cause of war.
     •The age-old "controversy" of Judaism "vs" Christianity — candles (i.e.) Christ "Light of the World."
     • There are a lot of strong beliefs in the world!
     •Conflict of religion.
     •Does this represent a battle, or the conflicting sides of the two religious faiths, yet they are both still involved in the same game.
  • What aspects of the work are you most curious about, and what answers would you like to have about those aspects of the work?
     •Why did Tosso use certain colors, postures, symbols?
     • The small details with glass. Did he use small tools to shape the glass?
     • Is the artist able to come here? Why isn't he on the video? Can he show us how to make this?
     • I liked what you described — I was curious how long it took him to make it.
    Further Comments
     • Glad to see this beautiful Chess Set at the Chrysler — one of his best!!!
     • Very nice piece. Seems to be the center of attraction of all pieces in the room. I also like the idea of being able to comment in this manner. Not only does the Museum gain perspective of different viewers, but viewers are able to analyze pieces by answering the questions.
     • Very nice museum. Security was friendly and helpful. Staff was just great. Gift shop was wonderful but very expensive. Glass collection was great. William Morris exhibit was just marvelous. Chrysler Museum is the best I've seen in a while. I will come back again.
     • Thanks for asking my opinion. It's a beautiful museum.
     • OK. This work to me is boring, but I'm only 14 so it's not that cool.

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