Summer 1910

This bronze figure, "Summer," was made by Aristide Maillol and it feels like a really solid, grounded thing. It reminds me of my own process of building up layers in a painting. The figure has this incredible surface, you can see Maillol's fingerprints almost, where the metal has been worked. I love the hand that's extended slightly, it makes me think of a dancer pausing in a moment of stillness. It's solid and light at the same time. Looking at this work I'm also reminded of Rodin, maybe because of the way the light catches the bronze. But Maillol's figure feels more relaxed, less tormented. It really speaks to how artists are always in conversation with each other, responding to what came before, pushing in new directions. In the end, it is about having a conversation, it doesn't matter if it is resolved or not, it just needs to open to possibilities.