Woman Bending Backward 1926

Curator: Gaston Lachaise sculpted "Woman Bending Backward," and though undated, it's on display at the Harvard Art Museums. It measures about 5 x 9 x 4 inches. Editor: The alabaster gives the figure a luminous quality. It feels simultaneously grounded and ethereal. What’s interesting is the contrast between the heaviness implied by the pose and the lightness suggested by the material. Curator: Indeed, alabaster’s workability allowed Lachaise to emphasize the sensual and physical labor required to shape such a form. The bending suggests a release, perhaps from labor, or a return to it. Editor: The gesture also echoes ancient symbols of fertility and creation, the woman arching backward in a pose of vulnerability and strength. Curator: Don't forget the base itself, the polished black contrasting with the soft white. It acts as a stage, highlighting the process of display, the art object elevated. Editor: A powerful piece, open to so many interpretations. Curator: A reflection of process and form, indeed.