Maquette for "Thorn Mill" 1975

Seymour Lipton made this "Maquette for Thorn Mill" out of metal. He really dove into the physicality of his medium here. There’s a raw, almost violent energy in the way Lipton attacks the metal, bending and joining the shapes with an almost brutal directness. I love the contrast between the cold, industrial feel of the metal and the organic, almost botanical forms he coaxes out of it. Look closely at the riveted joints. They're like metal thorns, holding everything together but also adding a sense of danger and fragility. The surface is roughly textured, showing the marks of the artist's hand and the tools he used. It’s easy to imagine Lipton in his studio, wrestling with the material, shaping it with force and precision. It reminds me a little of some of Picasso’s metal sculptures. It's all about the process, the struggle, and the transformation of something cold and hard into something that feels alive and expressive.