Right After

Strand
This artwork might first appear to be made out of string.

In fact, each strand is a fiberglass cord (a type of fabric-like plastic) that has been dipped into latex and hung on S-shaped hooks, made from ordinary clothes hangers.

The artist, Eva Hesse, suspended the cords in the air when they were still wet with latex so they would dry into this hanging shape.

Weblike
Hesse made this sculpture using modern, manufactured materials. Yet the sculpture is weblike, and its surface is almost see-through, much like something we would expect to see in nature. Hesse created this work at the end of her life, while she was very ill with a brain tumor.

Latex
The latex (a liquid made up of rubber particles), into which Hesse dipped the cords, either dried or dripped off. These were new materials at the time, so Hesse had no idea what would happen, or how the work would age.

She is known for having created pioneering work with new materials. Right After has gotten very brittle and fragile over the years.

Minimalism
Hesse is often associated with the Minimalists, who also used new, modern materials. The natural colors and subtle textures of Hesse’s work, however, differ significantly from the smoother, metallic finishes and harsher edges of many Minimalist works.

Hesse did not embrace the austere precision of Minimalism and instead gave her work the ability to move and change over time.

Suspended strings
Because this artwork is so fragile, the Museum’s conservation team—responsible for making sure the objects in the Museum stay in good shape—had to construct a custom structure that keeps the piece safe and still for when it needs to be transported.