Henri Laurens, who associated closely with the avant-garde painters of his native Paris, worked in a Cubist idiom from 1915. In about 1920 he turned from the production of bas-reliefs and frontalized constructions to the execution of more classically ordered, freestanding sculptures. Head of a Young Girl may have appeared originally as a drawing. However, in this bust Laurens expresses Cubist painting principles in essentially sculptural terms. The tilted surfaces and geometric volumes of the sculpture interpenetrate to constitute a compact whole. Circling the piece, the viewer perceives dramatically different aspects of the head, which provide a variety of visual experiences unexpected in a form so schematically reduced. The structuring planes of one side of the head are broad and unadorned; its edges and planar junctures form strong, uninterrupted curves and straight lines. The other side is articulated with detail; its jagged, hewn contour describing hair contrasts rhythmically with the sweeping curve of the opposite cheek. Laurens slices into the polyhedron that determines the facial planes to describe nose, upper lip, and chin at one stroke. The subtle modeling, particularly of the almond eye and simplified mouth, produces nuanced relations of light and shadow. Despite the geometric clarity of structure, the delicacy of the young girl’s features and her self-contained pose create a gentle, meditative quality.

Head of a Young Girl
(Tête de jeune fillette)
terracotta
1920
Henri Laurens (1885-1954)
Paris, France

#cubism #cubistsculpture #sculpture #art #henrilaurens #france #frenchmodernism #modernism #vintagemodern #headofayoundgirl #terracotta #modernart #modernsculpture #frenchsculpture #c1920 #paris

⚒️ #HenriLaurens, French sculptor, was #BOTD 18 February 1885. #Art #Sculpture

Cette sculpture, intitulée Le Petit Musicien, a été réalisée par l'artiste Henri Laurens. Elle se distingue par son style cubiste, reconnaissable et influencé par les maîtres Braque et Picasso. Dans cette œuvre, les formes humaines sont simplifiées en volumes imbriqués et anguleux, caractéristiques de cette approche artistique. This sculpture, titled The Little Musician, was created by the artist Henri Laurens. It stands out for its Cubist style, recognizable and influenced by the masters Braque and Picasso. In this work, human forms are simplified into interlocking, angular volumes, characteristic of this artistic approach. © Vétograffito

#Sculpture #Arts #HenriLaurens #Vétograffito

Chaque jour de la semaine, je vous présenterai une sculpture photographiée au cours de mes nombreuses expos.

Ce vendredi, Le Petit Musicien par Henri Laurens.

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⚒️ #HenriLaurens, French sculptor, was #BOTD 18 February 1885. #Art #Sculpture

Head of a Young Girl (Tête de jeune fillette) - Henri Laurens - 1920

Guggenheim Museum, New York
Terracotta
34.2 x 16.5 cm (13 1/2 x 6 1/2 in.)

#Art #ModernArt #Sculpture #HenriLaurens