Yearning. Kneeling Female Nude 1930 - 1937

Svend Rathsack made this sculpture, Yearning. Kneeling Female Nude, from plaster. I find myself wondering about the texture of the plaster here, and how it feels to the touch, cool and hard. There is a beautiful tension between the smoothness of the skin and the rough texture of the material. See how the artist has carefully worked the surface to create a sense of depth and volume, particularly in the way the light catches the contours of the body. The way she stretches her hands up to her face is heartbreaking. It’s like she’s reaching for something just out of reach, or maybe she’s trying to shield herself from the world. It reminds me of some of Rodin's more emotive figures; there's a similar sense of raw emotion and vulnerability in their work too. Ultimately, this sculpture speaks to the universal human experience of longing, and the search for meaning and connection in a world that can often feel cold and indifferent.