Zeventigste verjaardag van Johan Wagenaar 1932 1931

Gra Rueb cast this bronze medal in 1932 to commemorate Johan Wagenaar’s seventieth birthday. The first thing I see here is the incredible, almost fleshy texture of the bronze. Look closely at the way Rueb models the subtle curves of Wagenaar’s face, capturing the soft tissue around his eye sockets. It is as if she is not just portraying his likeness but also, in a way, his inner life. I like to imagine her fingerprints are all over this, pushing and coaxing the clay until the form feels just right. The subtle gradations of tone give the surface a feeling of warmth, of being alive. Consider the way the light catches his brow and cheekbone, a sense of deep reflection. This feels like a conversation between the artist and her subject, a quiet meditation on the passage of time and the weight of experience. It's a wonderful example of how portraiture can transcend mere representation, becoming a deeply personal and resonant work of art. It brings to mind the work of Medardo Rosso, where the softness of form creates a similar sense of immediacy and emotional depth.