Babu Ani. Javanese Woman 1922

Svend Rathsack created this portrait bust of a Javanese Woman, Babu Ani, and I imagine his hands coaxing and encouraging her features from the dark stone. What I love about sculpture is its ability to reflect and absorb light. Look at the soft curve of her cheek, the gentle slope of her nose, and the way the light caresses her skin. I can only imagine the challenge Rathsack faced, wrestling with the cool hardness of the stone to bring her alive. Did he want to capture her likeness, or was he more interested in her spirit? She reminds me of the work of early modernist sculptors, like Brancusi or Modigliani. These artists worked with simple forms and pure materials to create objects of great beauty and power. We artists are all in dialogue with each other, across time, inspiring one another and pushing the boundaries of what is possible. And, like us, she embodies an idea but also exists as a form in space.