Abduction of Women c. 1916 - 1919

Georg Kolbe made this bronze sculpture called 'Abduction of Women'. The surface is alive with the marks of the sculptor's hand, each indentation telling a story of pressure and release. I wonder what it was like to be Kolbe in that moment, wrestling with the bronze, trying to capture something so primal and dynamic. You can almost feel the heat and effort, the artist pushing and pulling at the material, coaxing these figures into being. The texture of the bronze is so tactile, I can imagine running my fingers over the smooth curves of their bodies. This gives the piece an almost sensual quality, emphasizing the raw physicality of the interaction between the figures. 'Abduction of Women' feels like an exploration of tension, mirroring themes explored by Rodin, another artist who wasn't afraid to delve into the complexities of human relationships. Both artists were clearly in dialogue with the art of their time, pushing boundaries and questioning traditional notions of beauty and form. Art is always a conversation across time.