Ultimate Gumball
Date1979
MediumScreenprint on Masonite
DimensionsSheet: 48 × 54 1/2 inches (121.9 × 138.4 cm)
Framed: 49 × 55 1/2 × 2 inches (124.5 × 141 × 5.1 cm)
Credit LineGift of Louis K. and Susan P. Meisel.
Object number2010.39.4
Copyright© Louis K. Meisel.
The images and text contained on this page are owned by Telfair Museums or used by the Museum with permission from the owners. Unauthorized reproduction, transmission or display of these materials is prohibited with the exception of items deemed “fair use” as defined by U.S. and international copyright laws.Label TextAlthough he was interested in art from a young age, Charles Bell did not pursue it as a profession until the 1960s, following a stint in the U.S. Navy. He learned the technique of trompe l’oeil, or the rendering of objects as an optical illusion to convince the viewer that they exist in three dimensions, under the tutelage of painter Donald Timothy Flores in San Francisco. Bell later moved to New York City in 1967 to set up his own studio.
Ultimate Gumball is representative of Charles Bell’s distinctive style, in terms of both technique and subject matter. Bell is known for his photorealistic, large-scale works of commonplace items. These objects are reproduced on a grand scale to give them a sense of majesty. The size also allows the viewer to note Bell’s skill at capturing the effects of light on the reflective surface of the glass.
