Mrs. B. 1910

This relief sculpture 'Mrs. B' was made by Herbert Adams, though we don't know exactly when, and it's made from bronze. Bronze is a material that speaks of history and permanence. The image is literally raised from the surface, not painted on, so our way of seeing is altered, because light casts shadows. I notice the delicate treatment of Mrs. B's dress. Look closely at the subtle folds, the way the light glints off the surface, and how Adams used a limited palette to make her form. The material is the message, the process of creation, of coaxing an image from metal, is right there on the surface. Think about the old masters. Adams is part of an ongoing conversation, riffing off and responding to everything that came before. This piece invites us to slow down, to look at art with different eyes.