First Study for ‘Toward a New World’ c. 1934 - 1965

Editor: This is Jacques Lipchitz's plaster sculpture, *First Study for ‘Toward a New World’*. It has a rough, almost primal feel to it. What structural elements stand out to you? Curator: The openings, the negative spaces carved out of the plaster, are integral. They aren't merely absences but actively shape how we perceive the solid forms. Note how they play with light and shadow. Editor: I see what you mean. The forms are bulky, yet the holes create a sense of lightness and dynamism. It is a study, after all. Curator: Precisely. The tension between mass and void, between rough texture and defined shape, anticipates Lipchitz's later, more monumental works. It is a dialogue in sculptural form. Editor: That's a fascinating way to look at it. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. Considering the interplay of form and void offers a deeper engagement with the artist’s intent.