Female Figure in Flenite Flashcards
date
1913
artsist
Jacob Epstein
thematic focus
Sculpture influenced by primitivism
subject
*Represents a pregnant woman
*An almost S-shaped mother engrossed in contemplation of unborn baby in belly
*Maternity dominated Epstein’s imagination at intervals throughout his career
other Epstein works on maternity
Mother and Child (relief carving), c. 1905,
Maternity, begun 1910, Hoptonwood stone
Mother and Child 1913-14 marble,
Genesis, 1929-1930, Seravezza marble
what did epsein say about his genisis sculpture
‘I felt the necessity to give expression to the profoundly elemental in motherhood’- Epstein autobiography
treatment of figure and form (description)
*Focus on abstracted and simplified form
*Meditative head, suspended over pregnant stomach
*Upper body curves back from sturdy legs in an arc of maternal protectiveness
*May be inspired by the fertility charms (note small scale) worn by Congolese women
*Seen from the side it is shaped like a question mark, the torso supported on strong sloping legs, the head and shoulders bent in a curve towards the focal point of the swollen belly
*Seen from the front the piece is narrow/compact,
primitive influence of fertility charms
*May be inspired by the fertility charms (note small scale) worn by Congolese women
scale
*Despite its small scale, renders the pregnancy theme to startling formal effect
material
*The dark green mottled stone (green sepentine) is what Epstein called flenite - an amalgam of the words flint and granite
-It is possible that Epstein invented the name ‘flenite’ to draw attention to the exotic qualities of the stone
-Known to have carved at least three figures in flenite around 1913
how does epstein incorporate ‘truth to materials’
-consciously respects the nature of the material, working it to bring out its particular properties and beauty of colour and surface
-title emphasises the material rather than the subject
-The dark colour is reminiscent of a prehistoric past
-The dark stone absorbs light thus apparently increasing its density and emphasising the sharpness of its contours
-Smooth polished surface reflects light and highlights subtle colour/textural changes in its surface
epstein relationship with direct carving
1910 Epstein started to carve directly in stone, aided only by preliminary drawings (no model): this was radical
Epstein quote about direct carving
*Epstein said: “I want to carve mountains”
example of when epsetein didnt use direct carving
. Epstein’s figures for the British Medical Association building (begun 1907) were modelled in studio, cast in plaster and then taken to the Strand before being copied in stone by a firm of architectural carvers
evidence of direct carving in this sculpture
*Simple forms which respected the original block
*Surface is kept uncluttered by detail in order to expose the material itself
*Carefully polished to enhance the colour and markings
*The figure is abstract
Influences
-moves away from renaissance influence of donatello and Michelangelo (He also moves away from influence of Rodin - whose studio he had visited during his time in Paris )
what was he exposed to at Ecole des beaux arts and Academie Julien
he had been exposed early influence of donatello and michelangelo to in Paris from 1902-05 while studying at the École des Beaux-Arts and Académie Julian
Modilglliani influence (relationship with artist and how its seen in this sculpture)
Epstein had spent time with Modigliani in Paris in 1912 and 1913
Modigliani showed a group of his carved heads - inspired by African masks - at the Salon d’Automne in 1912
influence seen in…
*The clearly-defined structure of the figure
*The figure flows upward from a squared root
*Clarity and simplicity of form
*Direct carving of stone
*Modigliani believed modern sculptors were modelling too much in clay (“too much mud”) and believed the only way sculpture could be revitalised was through working directly in stone
*Very little detail
*Almond eyes
Brancusi influence (relationship with artist and how its seen in this sculpture)
Had a studio in Montparnasse
Epstein spent time with Brancusi in Paris in 1912 and 1913
influence seen in…
*Extreme reduction of form
*Retaining only sculptural essence
*Direct carving
*Stripping away of unnecessary detail
what did epstein say about brancusi
Epstein called Brancusi “the modern artist who brought the greatest individual touch to sculpture”
influence Gaudier-Brzeska (relationship with artist and how its seen in this sculpture)
In contact with Epstein - admired his primitive works
Influence of Gaudier-Brzeska on Epstein’s Female Figure in Flenite:
*Abstraction
*Influence of primitive cultures (through artefacts seen at the British Museum)
*Sense of erotic power
*Direct carving
influence Eric Gill (relationship with artist and how its seen in this sculpture)
Influence of Eric Gill on Epstein’s Female Figure in Flenite:
*Direct caving
*Draws inspiration from primitivism in his work
influence of primitivism (before London)
*At the Louvre during his first sojourn in Paris (1902-1905) Epstein had been impressed by the Egyptian, early Greek, Cycladic goddesses and Iberian art
*In 1903 had visited the Gauguin retrospective at Salon d’Automne (where he saw the artist’s primitive-inspired 3D works)
influence of primitivism (in London)
*As soon as he moved to London (1905) Epstein became a frequent visitor of the British Museum
*c. 1910 began to incorporate elements taken from sculpture of non-western origin into his work
*primitive art at this point in London was an area of increasing interest
*echoes the interest of avant-garde artists like Derain, Picasso and Modigliani in Paris (his 1912-13 sojourn in Paris was very influential in this respect)
*For avant-garde artists primitive art suggested new formal and expressive possibilities at a time when they were working against the grain of western classical traditions
*Epstein’s interest in primitivism was also stimulated by his friendship with fellow artist Eric Gill (1882 - 1940) who was also drawn to non-western sources
*Epstein began collecting primitive artefacts seriously in 1912 and eventually owned the finest collection of African and Pacific art in Europe
