Autumn after 1948

Curator: Henri Laurens, born in Paris, presents us with "Autumn," a bronze sculpture currently housed in the Tate Collections. Editor: The figure's smooth curves give off a sense of weight and repose, almost like a languid sigh. Curator: Laurens, a student of the academic tradition, greatly admired Rodin and it shows, doesn't it? The material’s inherent properties dictate the form to some extent. Editor: Indeed. The sculpture invites the viewer to appreciate the harmony of its volume and spatial relationships, showcasing the artist's mastery of form, almost like deconstructing the human form through an abstract lens. Curator: It’s interesting to consider how the process of bronze casting, and the industrial context in which it occurred, democratized the figure. Editor: A fascinating exploration of the human form. Curator: Certainly. It also reflects changing attitudes toward labor and the body in the early twentieth century.