Maud Dale 1931

Charles Despiau made this bronze sculpture of Maud Dale at some point during his career. What hits me first is the texture, you can almost feel the artist’s hands in the clay. There's a sort of roughness, a tactile quality, that invites you to reach out and touch it, though of course, you shouldn’t. Look at the area around the eyes, the tiny marks and indentations that give her face depth and character. It's like Despiau wasn't trying to create a perfect likeness, but capture a feeling, an essence. You know, looking at this, I'm reminded of Rodin, another sculptor who wasn't afraid to leave the marks of his process visible. There's a conversation happening across time, between artists, about what it means to represent the human form. And, like any good conversation, it's full of questions, uncertainties, and unexpected turns.