Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a photographic photography by Elie Nadelman. It is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
This untitled photograph, mounted on a green card, is part of a collection bequeathed by William Kineton Parkes in 1938. It depicts a close-up of a white stone head with calm, rounded features, smooth skin, and soft, curly hair. The sculpture appears designed for display on a shelf or pedestal, showing a worn, uneven surface, particularly around the nose and cheeks.
Subject & Meaning
The photograph captures a serene, classically inspired stone head. The subject's calm expression and simple, rounded features evoke a sense of tranquility. The sculpture's intended purpose as a decorative piece for a shelf or pedestal suggests it was meant to convey elegance and refinement.
Technique & Style
The sculpture itself, not the photograph, showcases a style characterized by smooth, rounded forms and simple, curved lines, as seen in the hair and facial features. The worn surface indicates the piece may have been handled frequently or exposed to environmental factors over time.
History & Provenance
Acquired as part of William Kineton Parkes' 1938 bequest, this photograph was originally submitted to Parkes in the 1920s by an unidentified sculptor responding to one of his questionnaires on sculpture. It is now archived in the Archive of Art and Design.
Context
Though the sculptor of the depicted head is not identified here, the style bears resemblance to works by artists like Elie Nadelman, known for similar classical and refined sculptures. This piece would have been part of a broader early 20th-century sculptural practice emphasizing simplicity and elegance.
Legacy
As part of the Archive of Art and Design, this photograph contributes to the historical record of early 20th-century sculptural practices. It provides insight into the responses Parkes received and the aesthetic preferences of the time, though its individual impact may be more archival than influential on subsequent art movements.
Artist & collection
Artist
Elie Nadelman (born Eliasz Nadelman; February 20, 1882 – December 28, 1946) was a Polish-American sculptor, draughtsman of the School of Paris and a collector of folk art.
