Two Figures with Folded Arms 1947

Editor: This is "Two Figures with Folded Arms" by Barbara Hepworth. It looks like it's done in pencil or graphite on paper. I'm struck by the artist's hand; you can see the texture of the strokes. What do you notice about Hepworth's process here? Curator: I'm interested in the physicality of this work. The paper itself—what kind is it? How was it prepared? And how does the act of drawing here relate to Hepworth's sculptural practice? Did this inform the shapes she would later carve? Editor: That’s a great point. I hadn't considered how this drawing might be a step in her process as a sculptor. Thanks! Curator: Exactly! By understanding the labor and materials, we can better appreciate the intersection of drawing and sculpture in Hepworth's oeuvre.