Dimensions: object: 260 x 216 x 248 mm, 16 kg
Copyright: CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED, Photo: Tate
Curator: Up next we have Sir Jacob Epstein's bronze bust of Ernest Bevin, part of the Tate collection. What strikes you first? Editor: The weight of it, literally and figuratively. That dark bronze, those deep-set eyes... it conveys such gravitas. Curator: Epstein really captured Bevin's essence – the no-nonsense, working-class hero. Look at the rough texture, the almost brutal honesty in the modeling of his features. Editor: It’s like he's carved straight from the earth. The unyielding gaze reminds me of ancient Roman portraiture, a deliberate invocation of power. Curator: A fascinating connection! Epstein wasn’t afraid to break from tradition, though. He sought a rawer, more visceral truth. Editor: And I think he found it. This isn't just a portrait; it's an icon. Curator: Absolutely, and considering Bevin's impact on British labor and politics, it’s a fitting tribute. Editor: It makes you think about who we choose to immortalize and why. Curator: Indeed, and what aspects of them we choose to emphasize.
Comments
http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/epstein-the-rt-hon-ernest-bevin-n05689
Join the conversation
Join millions of artists and users on Artera today and experience the ultimate creative platform.
Ernest Bevin (1881-1951) was the General Secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union and a dominant figure in British left-wing politics. He was appointed Minister of Labour during the Second World War. This portrait belongs to Epstein’s series of war leaders, which was commissioned by the British government in 1943. It has been compared to an ancient Sumerian stone head owned by Epstein, reflecting Epstein’s interest in the sculpture of different eras and different cultures. Jacob Epstein was born in New York in 1880 and died in London in 1959. Gallery label, August 2004
CollectMore like this
