“A New American Sculpture, 1914-1945: Lachaise, Laurent, Nadelman, and Zorach is the first exhibition to investigate the integral relationships between modernism, classicism, and popular imagery in the interwar sculpture of Gaston Lachaise, Robert Laurent, Elie Nadelman, and William Zorach. The exhibition, co-organized by the Portland Museum of Art and the Amon Carter Museum of American Art, explores how this circle of European-born artists became preeminent figures of modernism in the United States. By juxtaposing their works, A New American Sculpture reveals the confluences of sources—from archaism and European avant-garde art to vernacular traditions and American popular culture—that informed these artists’ novel contributions to the history of sculpture. Assembled from public and private collections, this exhibition of approximately 60 sculptures and a number of preparatory drawings will address the remarkable affinities between the oeuvre of four divergent personalities, who redefined sculpture’s expressive potential during the turbulent interbellum period.” — PMA
Gaston Lachaise (United States, born France, 1882–1935). Standing Woman, 1912–27. Bronze, 72 x 28 x 17 inches (including base). Philadelphia Museum of Art: Gift of R. Sturgis and Marion B. F. Ingersoll, 1962, 1962-182-1
Gaston Lachaise (United States, born France, 1882–1935). Woman Seated, modeled 1918, cast 1925. Bronze with nickel plate, 12 inches (height). Amon Carter Museum of American Art, Fort Worth, Texas. Purchase with funds provided by the Council of the Amon Carter Museum of American Art, 2007.8
Gaston Lachaise (United States, born France, 1882–1935). Two Floating Nude Acrobats, 1922. Bronze, 11 1/2 x 2 3/4 x 7 1/2 inches. Private collection, Courtesy of Gerald Peters Gallery
Gaston Lachaise (United States, born France, 1882–1935). Man Walking (Portrait of Lincoln Kirstein), 1933. Bronze, 23 1/2 inches (height). Collection Bruce Museum, Greenwich, CT, 2010.01
Robert Laurent (United States, born France, 1890–1970). Abstract Head, circa 1915. Graphite on paper, 11 1/8 x 12 3/4 inches. Bernard Goldberg Fine Arts LLC, New York
Robert Laurent (United States, born France, 1890–1970). The Bather, circa 1925. Alabaster, 26 3/4 x 22 1/16 x 13 9/16 inches. Brooklyn Museum, Carll H. de Silver Fund, 35.1009
Robert Laurent (United States, born France, 1890–1970). Hero and Leander, circa 1944. Limestone, 27 x 39 x 20 inches. Portland Museum of Art, Maine. Hamilton Easter Field Art Foundation Collection, Gift of Barn Gallery Associates, Inc., Ogunquit, Maine, 1979.13.45
Robert Laurent (United States, born France, 1890–1970). Acrobat, 1921. Wood, 20 1/2 x 10 1/2 x 8 inches. Bernard Goldberg Fine Arts LLC, New York
Elie Nadelman (United States, born Poland, 1882–1946). Man in the Open Air, circa 1915. Bronze, 54 1/2 x 11 3/4 x 21 1/2 inches. The Museum of Modern Art, New York. Gift of William S. Paley (by exchange), 1948, 259.1948
Elie Nadelman (United States, born Poland, 1882–1946). Chef d’Orchestre, circa 1919. Cherry wood, stained and gessoed, 38 1/2 x 22 x 11 inches. Amon Carter Museum of American Art, Fort Worth, Texas. Partial gift of the Anne Burnett and Charles Tandy Foundation, 1988.33
Elie Nadelman (United States, born Poland, 1882–1946). Acrobat, 1916. Bronze, 17 1/2 x 6 x 9 1/4 inches (including base). Myron Kunin Collection of American Art, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Elie Nadelman (United States, born Poland, 1882–1946). Two Standing Nudes, circa 1907–08. Ink, wash, and graphite on paper, 13 5/8 x 8 5/8 inches. Amon Carter Museum of American Art, Fort Worth, Texas, 1983.172
Elie Nadelman (United States, born Poland, 1882–1946). Head, Side View, 1906–07. Ink and graphite on paper mounted to cardboard, 10 1/4 x 7 7/8 inches. Portland Museum of Art, Maine. Museum purchase with a gift from Dr. and Mrs. Delvyn C. Case, Jr., 1982.127
William Zorach (United States, born Lithuania, 1889–1966). The Artist’s Daughter, 1930. Marble, 25 3/8 x 12 1/4 x 10 1/2 inches. Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Tessim Zorach, 1968.25
William Zorach (United States, born Lithuania, 1889–1966). Mother and Child, 1922. Mahogany, 31 x 12 x 12 1/2 inches. Portland Museum of Art, Maine. Anonymous loan, 2.2002
William Zorach (United States, born Lithuania, 1889–1966). Waterfall, 1917. Butternut, 15 3/4 x 7 1/2 inches. Lent by the Estate of Dr. Samuel and Adele Wolman
Images courtesy Portland Museum of Art.