My Grandmother 1877

Curator: Let's consider Paul Wayland Bartlett's "My Grandmother," created in bronze in 1877. It’s quite striking, isn’t it? Editor: Absolutely. There's a certain stillness, a contemplative quality to it that grabs you immediately. She feels like a matriarch, weathered by time but possessing an inner strength. Curator: The realism is undeniable, down to the subtle wrinkles etched around her eyes and mouth. Bartlett pays careful attention to the materiality of the sculpture too, as can be noted by looking at the way he uses bronze to simulate textures of the clothing and skin. It’s a very clever piece. Editor: I'm drawn to how the bronze seems to almost glow softly from within, a testament to Bartlett's skill in handling the medium. You feel like if you touched it, you might feel the warmth of her presence. It gives you pause for thought on a person's experiences over such a period in time. Curator: The choice of bronze itself is significant. It's a durable, lasting material, intended to memorialize her, transforming a personal figure into something enduring. The societal views towards women are worth bearing in mind. Sculptures immortalise and honour. It says something about the artist's feelings, but also that his Grandmother was an important individual that required immortality. Editor: The fabric seems a bit severe somehow, like she is in mourning maybe? The bows and lines of the draped hood create such interesting angles. The shadows dancing on it are also quite dramatic. There's something a bit haunting about the combination of hard bronze and the softness of the expression. Curator: I think looking at her clothing is significant to fully appreciating the era that the sculpture represents. I think we can determine what stage of life the Grandmother was at when it was created and how Paul may have perceived this based on the chosen features. Editor: It’s like peering into a moment frozen in time, pondering the memories and stories held within this woman's gaze. And that is why it’s such an evocative work of art! Curator: Agreed. The sculpture’s materiality and social significance contribute heavily to its success. It highlights and demonstrates the relationship between both the material, the Grandmother, and the familial context of Paul Wayland Bartlett.