Angel's Head n.d.

Herbert Adams created this ‘Angel’s Head’ medallion out of plaster, a humble material, yet one capable of capturing exquisite detail. Note the crisp lines of the angel’s profile, and the almost-windblown texture of her hair. These effects were likely achieved using a mold, a technique associated with mass production. But don’t be fooled: a great deal of skill would have been required to create the original model for this reproduction, and to refine each subsequent casting. Adams was no stranger to hard work. As a sculptor, he operated within a system much like that of a factory, balancing artistic vision with the demands of a busy studio. Works like this one, relatively small in scale, would have been desirable as affordable art objects for a growing middle class. Thinking about ‘Angel’s Head’ in this way invites us to consider the complex relationship between artistic expression, labor, and commerce in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It prompts us to rethink our definitions of fine art, design, and craft.