Drawings, paintings, and collage, 1931–1999

This subseries consists of approximately 2,875 works of art including drawings, sketches, studies, paintings, and collages created by Steinberg between the early 1930s and his death in 1999. Most of the works in this series were created after his immigration to the United States but some early drawings from his years in Milan are also included. This series records Steinberg’s artistic process and his practice of concept development. Imagery, themes, and concepts are repeated throughout the series and many works have the same or similar titles. Series include works from Steinberg’s books including All in Line, The Art of Living, The Passport, The Labyrinth, The Inspector, and The New World. Other themes include parades, Russia 1956, baseball, horse racing, maps, families, animals dressed as people, faux documents and certificates, and New York City landmarks and streets, including Canal Street and the Holland Tunnel. Steinberg’s use of false or “faux” calligraphy, stamps, seals, and other bureaucratic documentation are also present. Some works include the phrase “Ex Voto” in the title or notes. Steinberg used this term to describe illustrated scenes with short stories or descriptive captions written along the lower margin of the page. Steinberg often signed his work with the initials “ST” or with his last name. Many drawings include inscriptions and publishers’ and editors’ marks added at a later date on the recto and verso. Many inscriptions reference serials or books that the drawings appeared in or reference a published series or New Yorker feature. Many drawings have New Yorker copyright stamps or stickers on the verso. Steinberg’s use of pen and ink, graphite, wax crayons, and ink wash are most common among the works. Rubber stamp impressions, collage, and augmented photocopies are also present.