Sleeping Muse II 1917

This is Constantin Brâncuși’s Sleeping Muse II, but when it was made, I can’t tell you exactly. What's interesting is how Brâncuși has taken something as hard as bronze and polished it to create this soft, curving form. The material is so, so beautiful and has been worked on and caressed to get it into this shape. When I look at it, I think about how he carefully considered the texture and the surface. On one side the bronze is smooth and polished to a high sheen, and on the other it is pitted and rough. It makes me think about how he spent hours in the studio, carefully shaping and refining the sculpture, using his hands and simple tools to achieve this almost perfect form. It's like he was trying to capture the essence of sleep and transformation. I think Brâncuși, like many artists, was in an ongoing conversation with other artists throughout time, inspiring creativity. I find it so satisfying how they are constantly exchanging ideas.