British artist and sculptor Henry Moore (1898 – 1986) introduced a particular form of modernism to art in the United Kingdom. He is particularly well known for his reclining female figures. Moore was born in Castleford, Yorkshire, the son of a mine engineer. He became notoriously acclaimed in the international scene as a sculptor for his large scale abstract bronze and marble figures which can be seen in significant public enclaves worldwide. Moore’s figures are normally characteristic for piercing and hollow spaces which are reminiscent of the hilly landscape of Yorkshire. Most of the wealth he made from these large scale commissions in his later years was endowed to his Foundation.
There is a quote of Moore’s which I particularly enjoy and I find condensates how I understand his work:
There are universal shapes to which everyone is subconsciously conditioned and to which they can respond if their conscious control does not shut them off
More about Henry Moore’s work and style here and in this tribute page to the artist.
Portrait of the artist in his studio in the mid 1960s via britannica. Reclining figure from sculpture.net. The Three Piece Reclining Figure: Draped in Kew Gardens via rwapplewannabe
Tags: British modernists, British sculptors, Castleford, Henry Moore, Kew Gardens, Modernism, Sculpture, Yorkshire
June 11, 2009 at 3:22 pm
i was told by one artist called rikki about henry moore and after checking him online am much fasinated and moved by what i seeing. i now understand why henry moore is rated as one of the greatest artist the world has ever seen.