The Doll (Maquette for The Doll's Games) 1938

Hans Bellmer made this photograph of a sculpture, whose date is unknown. I can imagine Bellmer placing his doll in front of the tree, perhaps a bit nervous, maybe excited, and also completely in his element. The doll’s limbs seem to reach out, up into the tree, which to me, evokes the feeling of someone stretching and pushing their body to the limit. The darkness of the background puts it into high contrast, as if the doll and tree were illuminated on a stage, drawing attention to the artist’s construction. It’s as though Bellmer is saying, “Look what I have made, look at what I can do!” His work is an important part of the Surrealist movement and reminds me of other artists of the time, like Man Ray. They were all in a constant exchange, pushing the boundaries of what art could be, and I like to imagine them all egging each other on. Bellmer’s doll, and the way he positioned it, feels transgressive, but also like a vulnerable expression of his inner world. It's a weird world and the beauty is it allows for all sorts of interpretations.