Ram 1938 - 1942

sculpture

3d sculpting

natural shape and form

rounded shape

sculpture

detailed texture

sculptural image

unrealistic statue

chalky texture

sculpting

sculpture

united-states

curved shape

William Edmondson, a self-taught sculptor, created "Ram" between 1938 and 1942. This limestone sculpture, currently housed at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, depicts a simplified, yet expressive ram with a textured surface and bold forms, characteristic of Edmondson’s style. His sculptures, often depicting animals and biblical scenes, are a testament to his unique artistic vision. The ram, a powerful and symbolic animal, is presented with a simple, direct approach, revealing Edmondson’s ability to capture the essence of his subjects with a profound understanding of form and texture.

Comments

minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

⋮

William Edmondson was a stonemason’s assistant in Tennessee when he felt a calling from God. He recalled, I was out in the driveway with some old pieces of stone when I heard a voice telling me to pick up my tools. . . . I looked up in the sky and right there in the noon daylight . . . God was telling me to cut figures. The artist began carving sculpture about 1933; four years later he was the first Black artist to have a solo exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Ram shows how Edmondson carved stone with sensitivity and empathy. He suggested the texture of wool in working the body and gave the animal personality through its attentive upturned head.