Artwork Page for Male Torso

Details / Information for Male Torso

Male Torso

1917

Constantin Brancusi

(Romanian, 1876–1957)
Culture
France, 20th century
Medium
brass
Measurements
with base: 63.8 x 30.5 x 19.1 cm (25 1/8 x 12 x 7 1/2 in.)
Credit Line
Hinman B. Hurlbut Collection 1937.3205
Copyright
© Succession Brancusi - All rights reserved (ARS)
This artwork is known to be under copyright.
Location
223 20th Century Avant-Garde
Print
?

Did You Know?

Brancusi studied under Auguste Rodin but left after a few months, commenting: "Nothing can grow under big trees."

Description

This sculpture depicts a simplified human torso without limbs or head. The artist’s goal was not to move toward abstraction, but to capture the essence of things in his sculptures. Here, he stripped the human body down to its most basic components: one sleek cylinder representing the torso and two representing the upper thighs. Constantin Brancusi made three versions of this artwork: a wood version (Philadelphia Museum of Art) and two in brass (this museum and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden). The smooth surfaces of the brass versions dazzle the eye with their gleaming high polish.
A vertical, shiny brass cylinder with two shorter brass cylinders jutting out diagonally from its base.

Male Torso

1917

Constantin Brancusi

(Romanian, 1876–1957)
France, 20th century

See Also

Visually Similar by AI

    Contact Us

    The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@clevelandart.org.

    To request more information about this object, study images, or bibliography, contact the Ingalls Library Reference Desk.

    All images and data available through Open Access can be downloaded for free. For images not available through Open Access, or any image with a color bar, request a digital file from Image Services.