Robert Smithson, Untitled (ca. 1960-63)
Graphite and ink on paper
16 x 12 in. (40.6 x 30.5 cm)

Smithson annotates the verso of each drawing with
astrological and biblical references:
1.
Aries
Mch 21 to Apr. 19
St. Peter
Gad

Gad, a troop shall
overcome him; but
he shall overcome at
the last

Ink drawing of the astrological signs by Robert Smithson

Robert Smithson, Untitled (ca. 1960-63)
Graphite and ink on paper
16 x 12 in. (40.6 x 30.5 cm)

Smithson annotates the verso of each drawing with
astrological and biblical references:
1.
Aries
Mch 21 to Apr. 19
St. Peter
Gad

Gad, a troop shall
overcome him; but
he shall overcome at
the last

Robert Smithson, Untitled (ca. 1960-63)
Graphite and ink on paper
16 x 12 in. (40.6 x 30.5 cm)

Smithson annotates the verso of each drawing with
astrological and biblical references:
2.
Taurus
Apr. 19 to May 20
St. Simon Zelotes
Issachar

Issachar is a strong
ass couching down
between two burdens.
And he saw that rest
was good and the land
that it was pleasant,
and bowed his shoulder
to bear and became
a servant unto tribute.

Robert Smithson, Untitled (ca. 1960-63)
Graphite and ink on paper
16 x 12 in. (40.6 x 30.5 cm)

Smithson annotates the verso of each drawing with
astrological and biblical references:
2.
Taurus
Apr. 19 to May 20
St. Simon Zelotes
Issachar

Issachar is a strong
ass couching down
between two burdens.
And he saw that rest
was good and the land
that it was pleasant,
and bowed his shoulder
to bear and became
a servant unto tribute.

Robert Smithson, Untitled (ca. 1960-63)
Graphite and ink on paper
16 x 12 in. (40.6 x 30.5 cm)

Smithson annotates the verso of each drawing with
astrological and biblical references:
3 Gemini
May 20 June 21
St. James the Less
Simeon Levi

Simeon + Levi are
brethren; instruments
of cruelty are in their
habitations
O my soul come not
thou unto their secert [sic]
unto their assembly
mine hour, be not
thou united: for
in their anger they
slew man, and in their
self will digged down
a wall.
Cursed be thier [sic] anger
for it was fierce, and
their wrath, for it was
cruel: I will divide them
in Jacob + scatter in
Israel.

Robert Smithson, Untitled (ca. 1960-63)
Graphite and ink on paper
16 x 12 in. (40.6 x 30.5 cm)

Smithson annotates the verso of each drawing with
astrological and biblical references:
3 Gemini
May 20 June 21
St. James the Less
Simeon Levi

Robert Smithson, Untitled (ca. 1960-63)
Graphite and ink on paper
16 x 12 in. (40.6 x 30.5 cm)

Smithson annotates the verso of each drawing with
astrological and biblical references:
4
Cancer
June 21 to July 22
St. Andrew
Benjamin

Robert Smithson, Untitled (ca. 1960-63)
Graphite and ink on paper
16 x 12 in. (40.6 x 30.5 cm)

Smithson annotates the verso of each drawing with
astrological and biblical references:
4
Cancer
June 21 to July 22
St. Andrew
Benjamin

Robert Smithson, Untitled (ca. 1960-63)
Graphite and ink on paper
16 x 12 in. (40.6 x 30.5 cm)

Smithson annotates the verso of each drawing with
astrological and biblical references:
Leo
July 22 to Aug. 22
St. John
Judah

Robert Smithson, Untitled (ca. 1960-63)
Graphite and ink on paper
16 x 12 in. (40.6 x 30.5 cm)

Smithson annotates the verso of each drawing with
astrological and biblical references:
Leo
July 22 to Aug. 22
St. John
Judah

Robert Smithson, Untitled (ca. 1960-63)
Graphite and ink on paper
16 x 12 in. (40.6 x 30.5 cm)

Smithson annotates the verso of each drawing with
astrological and biblical references:
Virgo
Aug 22 to Sept. 23
St. Philip
Asher

Robert Smithson, Untitled (ca. 1960-63)
Graphite and ink on paper
16 x 12 in. (40.6 x 30.5 cm)

Smithson annotates the verso of each drawing with
astrological and biblical references:
Virgo
Aug 22 to Sept. 23
St. Philip
Asher

Robert Smithson, Untitled (ca. 1960-63)
Graphite and ink on paper
16 x 12 in. (40.6 x 30.5 cm)

Smithson annotates the verso of each drawing with
astrological and biblical references:
Libera [sic]
Sept. 23 to Oct 23
St. Bartholomew—
Nathiel [sic]
Ephraim Manassah [sic]

Robert Smithson, Untitled (ca. 1960-63)
Graphite and ink on paper
16 x 12 in. (40.6 x 30.5 cm)

Smithson annotates the verso of each drawing with
astrological and biblical references:
Libera [sic]
Sept. 23 to Oct 23
St. Bartholomew—
Nathiel [sic]
Ephraim Manassah [sic]

Robert Smithson, Untitled (ca. 1960-63)
Graphite and ink on paper
16 x 12 in. (40.6 x 30.5 cm)

Smithson annotates the verso of each drawing with
astrological and biblical references:
Scorpio
Oct. 23 to Nov. 22
St Thomas
Dan

Robert Smithson, Untitled (ca. 1960-63)
Graphite and ink on paper
16 x 12 in. (40.6 x 30.5 cm)

Smithson annotates the verso of each drawing with
astrological and biblical references:
Scorpio
Oct. 23 to Nov. 22
St Thomas
Dan

Robert Smithson, Untitled (ca. 1960-63)
Graphite and ink on paper
16 x 12 in. (40.6 x 30.5 cm)

Smithson annotates the verso of each drawing with
astrological and biblical references:
Sagittarius
Nov. 22 to Dec 21
St. James
Joseph

Robert Smithson, Untitled (ca. 1960-63)
Graphite and ink on paper
16 x 12 in. (40.6 x 30.5 cm)

Smithson annotates the verso of each drawing with
astrological and biblical references:
Sagittarius
Nov. 22 to Dec 21
St. James
Joseph

Robert Smithson, Untitled (ca. 1960-63)
Graphite and ink on paper
16 x 12 in. (40.6 x 30.5 cm)

Smithson annotates the verso of each drawing with
astrological and biblical references:
Capricornus
Dec. 21 to Jan 20
St. Matthew
Naphtali

Robert Smithson, Untitled (ca. 1960-63)
Graphite and ink on paper
16 x 12 in. (40.6 x 30.5 cm)

Smithson annotates the verso of each drawing with
astrological and biblical references:
Capricornus
Dec. 21 to Jan 20
St. Matthew
Naphtali

Robert Smithson, Untitled (ca. 1960-63)
Graphite and ink on paper
16 x 12 in. (40.6 x 30.5 cm)

Smithson annotates the verso of each drawing with
astrological and biblical references:
Aquarius
Jan 20 to Feb 19
St. Thaddeus Jude
Reuben

Robert Smithson, Untitled (ca. 1960-63)
Graphite and ink on paper
16 x 12 in. (40.6 x 30.5 cm)

Smithson annotates the verso of each drawing with
astrological and biblical references:
Aquarius
Jan 20 to Feb 19
St. Thaddeus Jude
Reuben

Robert Smithson, Untitled (ca. 1960-63)
Graphite and ink on paper
16 x 12 in. (40.6 x 30.5 cm)

Smithson annotates the verso of each drawing with
astrological and biblical references:
Pisces
Feb 19 to Mch 21
Judas Iscariot
Zebulun

Robert Smithson, Untitled (ca. 1960-63)
Graphite and ink on paper
16 x 12 in. (40.6 x 30.5 cm)

Smithson annotates the verso of each drawing with
astrological and biblical references:
Pisces
Feb 19 to Mch 21
Judas Iscariot
Zebulun

1960—1963

Untitled [Zodiac Drawings]

Robert Smithson

(ca. 1960-63)

Series of twelve graphite and ink on paper drawings

16 x 12 in. (40.6 x 30.5 cm) each

Robert Smithson was interested in belief systems, in religion, and in popular culture. In his pre-1964 works he made many works that create conversations and contradictions by combining references from various histories. The zodiac drawings depict Smithson’s interpretation of each of the twelve signs in the astrological calendar. On the verso of each drawing are handwritten annotations, that contain biblical references and quotations from the Book of Genesis.

This series of zodiac drawings stem directly from what Smithson described in 1972 as “a kind of groping, investigating period” when when he was “Interested in origins and primordial beginnings, the archetypal nature of things.” This investigating period produced "Phantasmagorical drawings of cosmological worlds somewhat between Blake and a kind of Boschian imagery.” He passes no comment on the paired belief systems, rather presents them as ways of structuring the world.

I guess I was always interested in origins and primordial beginnings, you know, the archetypal nature of things. And I guess this was always haunting me all the way until about 1959 and 1960 when I got interested in Catholicism through T. S. Eliot and through that range of thinking. T. E. Hulme sort of led me to an interest in the Byzantine and in notions of abstraction as a kind of counterpoint to the Humanism of the late Renaissance. I was interested I guess in a kind of iconic imagery that I felt was lurking or buried under a lot of abstractions at the time.

Robert Smithson

"Interview with Robert Smithson" Conducted 1972 July 14-19, by Paul Cummings, for the Archives of American Art at 799 Greenwich Street in New York on July 14 and 19, 1972.

Untitled [Zodiac Drawings]

See Also