ticketsMember | Make a donation

Connections: Thank You

Curator of American sculpture Thayer Tolles contemplates art created out of gratitude.
Thayer Tolles
4 min. watch

"Ever since I was young, manners have been beaten into me. I listened for years and years to my grandmother telling me to hold the door open."

Curator of American sculpture Thayer Tolles contemplates art created out of gratitude.

Contributors

Thayer Tolles
Marica F. Vilcek Curator of American Painting and Sculpture, The American Wing

More from The Met

Dusty floor with intricate geometric patterns partially covered by a thin layer of dust. Soft footprints disrupt the dust, adding texture and intrigue.
Nonconformist Spirits
How did Man Ray and Marcel Duchamp engender mutual growth in their radical art?
Dawn Ades
October 10
A woman with closed eyes rests her head on a surface, holding an ornate African mask. The sepia-toned image conveys a serene and introspective mood.
More Than a Muse
Discover Kiki de Montparnasse’s abiding influence on Man Ray’s photographic practice.
Mark Braude
October 10
An older, smiling woman gestures in front of herself. In the background is a blurred Arms and Armor gallery.
Video
Meet Me at The Met: Laurie Anderson
October 2
More in:ConnectionsInspiration

Art Mentioned

A slider containing 16 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Presentation Vase, Thomas Fletcher American, Silver, American
Presentation Vase
Thomas Fletcher
Sidney Gardiner
1825
Lady at the Tea Table, Mary Cassatt American, Oil on canvas, American
Lady at the Tea Table
Mary Cassatt
1883–85
Alice Gerson in Prospect Park, William Merritt Chase American, Oil on panel, American
Alice Gerson in Prospect Park
William Merritt Chase
1886
Bacchante and Infant Faun, Frederick William MacMonnies American, Bronze, American
Bacchante and Infant Faun
Frederick William MacMonnies
Thiébaut frères
1893–94, cast 1894
Bowl, Tiffany & Co., Silver and silver gilt, American
Bowl
Tiffany & Co.
1888
Tea or hot water urn, John McMullin American, silver with ivory handle, American
Tea or hot water urn
John McMullin
1799
Sampler, Charlotte Gardner American, Silk embroidery on linen, American
Sampler
Charlotte Gardner
December 23, 1813
Limestone statue of a bearded man with votive offerings, Limestone, Cypriot
Limestone statue of a bearded man with votive offerings
Cypriot
ca. 475–450 BCE
[Three Little Girls Having a Tea Party], Unknown, Gelatin silver print
[Three Little Girls Having a Tea Party]
Unknown
1920s
Anna's Birthday Party, Julius Goldschmidt American, Albumen silver print
Anna's Birthday Party
Julius Goldschmidt
1896
[Metal Sign: "THANK YOU"], Walker Evans American, Instant internal dye diffusion transfer print (Polaroid SX-70)
[Metal Sign: "THANK YOU"]
Walker Evans
1973–74
Double bowl, Inca artist(s), Ceramic, slip, Inca
Double bowl
Inca artist(s)
1400–1535 CE
Portrait of Pietro Aretino, Marcantonio Raimondi Italian, Engraving; second state of two
Portrait of Pietro Aretino
Multiple artists/makers
ca. 1517–20
Madame Georges Charpentier (Marguerite-Louise Lemonnier, 1848–1904) and Her Children, Georgette-Berthe (1872–1945) and Paul-Emile-Charles (1875–1895), Auguste Renoir French, Oil on canvas
Madame Georges Charpentier (Marguerite-Louise Lemonnier, 1848–1904) and Her Children, Georgette-Berthe (1872–1945) and Paul-Emile-Charles (1875–1895)
Auguste Renoir
1878
Page of Calligraphy, Ink on dyed paper
Page of Calligraphy
dated 1075 AH/1664–65 CE
Neck Ring (Torque), Copper alloy, Scandinavian
Neck Ring (Torque)
Scandinavian
600 BCE