Victor's Lament (1979)

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Victor’s Lament is a 28ft tall mobile sculpture constructed using large steel beams. The artist of this work is Mark DiSuvero, born 1933, who is known for his abstract expressionist sculptures. The piece was originally created in 1969-1970 and resided on DiSuvero’s personal sculpture grounds before being dedicated to Muhlenberg College on April 27, 1979. Like much of DiSuvero’s work, Victor’s Lament can also be defined as abstract expressionist. It follows some of the common artistic trends that came out of post World War II art movements including a shift to abstraction as well as an emphasis on unique, industrial materials. The sculpture was initially painted black and was only repainted red in 1996. One misconception about the color of the piece is that it was changed to “Muhlenberg Red” in order to better complement the campus visually, but it was actually painted “Buddhist Red” per the wishes of the artist. Victor’s Lament weighs about 18,000 pounds and cost a total of $68,000. 

Philip and Muriel Berman funded the work in full and were present at its dedication. At the event Philip Berman commented that “if the sculpture could be ignored there would be no purpose to it” and emphasized that it was intended to stimulate the mind along with its visual appeal. Unsurprisingly, the introduction of such a large piece of art caused quite a stir on campus and within the community. Many students felt that its placement on the green would interfere with outdoor activities such as football or frisbee. Others simply found the piece unattractive and felt as though it did not match the aesthetic of the campus.

Despite this controversy, DiSuvero, who was also present at the dedication, claimed that his work was intended to promote social harmony: “Unity of humanity… that is the artist’s problem at the end of this century… (when such unity is realized) justice and joy for all can be achieved.” One writer for the 1979 Muhlenberg Weekly argued that the sculpture forces its viewers to further engage with their environment and notice how the work interacts with its surroundings. Others noted that the mobility of the piece was representative of the in-flux state of the world and brought attention to a surprisingly dynamic and lively quality of steel. The use of steel is also a dutiful nod to the importance of the material to Allentown and the Lehigh Valley’s history. Today, Victor’s Lament is a well loved staple of the Muhlenberg community.