Sketch for ‘Our Tree of Life’ 1962

Curator: This is Jacques Lipchitz's plaster sketch for 'Our Tree of Life.' The work, approximately 825 mm tall, resides at the Tate. Editor: The rough texture and off-white color give it a somewhat unsettling, primal feel, almost like a fossilized artifact. Curator: Lipchitz often worked with bronze. This plaster sketch, however, highlights the direct engagement and labor involved in sculpting—the additive process is evident in every layer. Editor: It evokes narratives of struggle and resilience. I see figures intertwined, perhaps representing the interconnectedness of humanity facing hardship. Curator: Absolutely. The work explores themes of rebirth, and given Lipchitz's Jewish heritage and experience during the Holocaust, it resonates deeply with collective trauma and hope. Editor: Seeing the materiality of this preliminary version adds another layer of meaning, grounding the grander themes in the physical act of creation itself. It's an unfinished statement, powerful in its vulnerability.