Comparing Two Sculptures - Floating Figure by Gaston Lachaise - Recumbent Figure by Henry Moore

For this week's application, we are comparing two sculptures, Floating Figure by Gaston Lachaise (Fig. 5-6, p.113) and Recumbent Figure by Henry Moore (Fig. 5-11, p. 118) (Martin & Jacobus, 2011).

One of the first things that we notice about the two sculptures is that the Floating Figure is a representational sculpture of a female form (Martin & Jacobus, 2011). This sculpture is assembled in the way we expect a female to look. Recumbent Figure is an abstract sculpture again of a female (Martin & Jacobus, 2011). This sculpture is a distorted form and not assembled in the way that our eyes are accustomed to seeing the human body.

As we examine the sculpture Recumbent Figure, at first glace we might assume it would be an example of a "space sculpture" but our book tells us on page 121, that it is not a space sculpture because, although it has open space within, "the density of the material dominates the space" (Martin & Jacobus, 2011).

Both sculptures are "sculpture in the round, because their three dimensional centeredness, brings out the voluminosity and density of things more clearly than does any other kind of sculpture" (Martin and Jacobus, 2011).

Between these two sculptures, I would choose Floating Figure as my favorite. Recumbent Figure is too abstract and distorted for my taste. Floating Figure is a true representative of a whole person, with arms, legs, fingers, toes and a body put together in the typical fashion of a person.

Floating Figure is a representation of a very voluptuous form of a female; that was cast out of bronze. Even though it weighs 840 pounds (Martin & Jacobus, 2011) it still gives the illusion of hovering gracefully above the surface. I think it would very interesting to go see it displayed at the National Gallery of Australia in a reflecting pool (Martin & Jacobus, 2011). This seems like it would be a great way to display this sculpture, it would give it the appearance of floating on top of the water; seeming to be at one with nature, and with the reflection in the water it would give the sculpture added depth and sensa.

Even without touching this sculpture we can imagine how smooth it would feel and if it were a sunny day how warm the bronze would feel. We would be able to "sense the solidity of the body permeating and animating the surrounding space" (Martin & Jacobus). This animation would be achieved by the shadows cast by the sculpture into the space between us and the artwork.

I found it interesting that even in the days of the Flappers and Puritan ethics Lachaise still used the voluptuous form of his beloved wife, Isabel, as his inspiration for most of his early works. Lachaise's figure has enormous breasts, a rounded belly, full hips and thighs and slender calves and feet. The face was that of his wife (Morgan, 2007).

To me Floating

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