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Within a mirrored box, framed in one of the Spacearium's dark, shining pylons, stands an assemblage of crystal geometric forms, dominated by the engraved portrait of Albert Einstein, which appears on a thin square block.

The box appears to reflect to infinity all of the forms within it -- the portrait, blocks, prisms, cubes, spheres, hemispheres; the forms, in turn, partially reflect each other. Thus the geometric forms join with and transform the portrait through simple phenomena of light and lens, as though to exemplify Einstein's words engraved on one of the crystal blocks: "The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion which stands at the cradle of true art and true science."

Display Status

This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.

Object Details
Country of Origin United States of America Type ART-Sculpture Medium Sculpture, Albert Einstein Designer Paul Schulze
Artist Roland Erlacher
Manufacturer Stueben Glass Company
Photographer Yousuf Karsh
Physical Description Large flat square of glass with an etching of Albert Einstein's face. Piece 15. Dimensions 3-D (Large flat square of glass with Einstein's face): 44.4 × 43.8 × 2.5cm, 14.1kg (1 ft. 5 1/2 in. × 1 ft. 5 1/4 in. × 1 in., 31lb.)
Inventory Number A19810656000 Credit Line Commissioned from Stueben Glass Company for the opening of the Albert Einstein Spacearium by the National Air and Space Museum. Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
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