Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a photographic photography by Leo Friedlander. It is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Untitled is a black-and-white photograph by Leo Friedlander, mounted on a green card, depicting an unfinished clay sculpture of two horses with a figure on one, crafted with detailed musculature and rough, uneven textures.
Subject & Meaning
The sculpture shows two horses standing side by side, their reins tied, implying synchronized movement. A man, twisted and leaning forward with an outstretched arm, appears to guide or control the animals, suggesting themes of control, harmony, or unity.
Technique & Style
The photograph captures the sculptural details, highlighting the contrast between the refined, detailed carving of the horses' muscles and legs and the overtly rough, unfinished state of the clay.
History & Provenance
Acquired as part of a collection bequeathed by William Kineton Parkes in 1938, this photograph was gathered in the 1920s through questionnaires sent to sculptors, providing insight into early 20th-century sculptural practices.
Context
Part of a broader collection assembled by Kineton Parkes, an art historian and novelist, this work reflects his interest in sculpture, particularly in the methodologies and outputs of contemporary sculptors of the time.
Legacy
While specific influence or renown of this piece is not highlighted, it contributes to the archival understanding of early 20th-century sculpture techniques and the network of artists and scholars like Kineton Parkes.
Artist & collection
Artist
Leo Friedlander spent most of his career pointing a camera at buildings, favoring the way light slides off brick and steel at odd hours.
