Stående nøgen pige 1898 - 1902

Aristide Maillol created this bronze sculpture, ‘Standing Nude Girl’, to explore the timeless form of the human body. Maillol was deeply influenced by classical sculpture, favoring smooth surfaces and simplified shapes over intricate details. Bronze casting is a complex process. The artist likely began with a clay model, then created a mold to pour molten bronze into. Once cooled, the bronze is removed, chased, and polished to achieve the final surface. The cool, dark surface and reflective quality of the bronze imbues the sculpture with a sense of gravity and permanence. Consider the labor involved in each stage, from the artist’s initial sculpting, to the foundry workers handling the dangerous process of melting and casting metal. This raises questions about the hierarchies of art and craft, skill and labor. Maillol elevates this process to high art through his refined aesthetic and celebration of the human form.