Reclining Figure 1951

Henry Moore made this sculpture, called Reclining Figure, and he really knew how to play with form and space. The curves and hollows of the sculpture invite you to walk around and see her from all angles. It’s as if she is made of clay that has been moulded and smoothed by hand, she has this lovely tactile quality. The whiteness of the sculpture makes her stand out against the grass. I’m drawn to the arch that her arm makes, it’s such a strong, elegant line, and it creates a kind of frame within the sculpture itself. You see, it’s this tension between the solid form and the empty space, that makes her so captivating. Moore reminds me of Barbara Hepworth, another British sculptor who also played with the relationship between form and void. It’s a dialogue between artists, this ongoing exploration of shape and space.