Reclining Female Nude 1955

Elizabeth Catlett made this Reclining Female Nude. It's a bronze sculpture of a woman lying on her side, resting on an oblong wooden base. The brown patina gives the bronze a warmth that invites touch. I imagine Catlett, in her studio, coaxing this figure into being, layer by layer. There's a deliberateness to her mark-making. It's like she's feeling the form into existence, trusting her hands to guide the way. Her forms are full and rounded. The figure is solid but sensual. I can't help but think of the other artists grappling with the female form, like Rodin. There is an ongoing conversation amongst artists through time. Each artist contributing their take on what it means to be human. Catlett’s nude invites us into a space of contemplation and connection.