Water 1745 - 1765

Jean-Pierre Defrance's seven-foot-tall sculpture titled *Water* presents us with an allegorical female figure crafted from stone. Her poised stance, draped fabric, and the cascading water from the vessel she holds evoke a sense of classical grace. Consider how Defrance uses the stone's texture to create visual interest. The rough, unpolished areas contrast with the smooth, refined surfaces of the woman’s skin and drapery. This interplay highlights the sculpture's inherent materiality while also drawing attention to the themes of transformation and fluidity that the element of water suggests. The composition is structured around the flowing vertical lines of the water, which create a dynamic sense of movement. This contrasts with the static, solid form of the figure, thus implying an engagement with the viewer. The sculpture destabilizes any fixed notion of form, inviting us to see art as an evolving interplay between material, concept, and perception.