Dimensions: object: 267 x 679 x 349 mm
Copyright: © The estate of Anthony Caro/Barford Sculptures Ltd | CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED, Photo: Tate
Editor: Sir Anthony Caro's bronze sculpture, "Woman Waking Up," is quite striking, especially the rough texture and the reclining pose. What kind of symbolism do you see in this piece? Curator: The act of waking itself is a potent symbol, isn't it? It suggests a transition, a movement from the unconscious to consciousness. Consider how cultures across time have linked sleep to death, and waking to rebirth. Editor: So, the sculpture could be interpreted as more than just a woman emerging from sleep? Curator: Precisely! It might symbolize a broader awakening, a societal or personal transformation. What do you think the artist is trying to convey with this depiction? Editor: It’s interesting to think about how this simple act can hold such profound meaning. I learned a lot today!
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Though best-known for his large abstract sculptures, in the 1950s Caro trained with Henry Moore and made figurative work. The surface of this sculpture is roughly pitted and the woman’s body seems almost to overflow the plinth, unlike the passive, contained poses of traditional nudes. This was, in part, a reaction against the smooth finish of Moore’s bronzes but also stemmed from Caro’s working method. By dropping soft clay from a height and developing the suggested forms, Caro could make the most of both chance and the expressive potential of the clay from which the bronze is taken. Gallery label, September 2016
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