Woman (Hesitation) c. 1919s

Curator: This is Gaston Lachaise's bronze sculpture "Woman (Hesitation)", currently residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: There’s something incredibly arresting about this figure; she feels both tentative and boldly present. Curator: Indeed. Lachaise often explored the female form, but what's striking here is the gesture. The outstretched arms, the lifted foot – they evoke a sense of anticipation, a readiness to embrace something new. Editor: It almost feels like a reclamation of space. For so long, the female body in art has been about passive observation, but here, she’s on the verge of movement, of agency. Curator: It begs the question: what is she hesitating about? And what potential does that hesitation hold? It resonates with the eternal human dance between fear and desire. Editor: Absolutely. This sculpture really makes me think about the historical constraints put on women’s bodies and their potential for freedom and self-expression. Curator: A beautiful interpretation. Lachaise's "Woman" continues to challenge and inspire across generations. Editor: It's a compelling reminder of the narratives embedded within our physical forms.