Dancing Figure
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Object Details
- Artist
- Elie Nadelman, born Warsaw, Poland 1882-died New York City 1946
- Luce Center Label
- This sculpture, titled Dancing Figure, was also titled Artemis, representing the Greek goddess of the hunt and the dawn. Elie Nadelman’s irreverent depiction of this deity as a common dancer shows how he tried to combine the look and themes of classical sculpture with American popular culture. For example, the sculptor combined ancient Greek motifs, such as the dancer’s wavy hair and almost masklike face with a modern pleated dress and theatrical pose. Nadelman shared the belief of mathematicians and physicists that waves were the most beautiful shapes, so he created Dancing Figure entirely out of curves, including the repeating flutes of her dress, the bands around her head and ankles, and her small fingers and feet.
- Credit Line
- Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Countess Helen Naselli in memory of Harry Wardman
- ca. 1916-1918
- Object number
- 1972.168
- Restrictions & Rights
- CC0
- Type
- Sculpture
- Medium
- bronze on marble base
- Dimensions
- 31 5/8 x 13 7/8 x 11 7/8 in. (80.4 x 35.3 x 30.2 cm.)
- See more items in
- Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection
- Department
- Painting and Sculpture
- On View
- Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center, 3rd Floor, W310
- Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center
- Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center, 3rd Floor
- Smithsonian American Art Museum
- Topic
- Figure female\full length
- Performing arts\dance
- Record ID
- saam_1972.168
- Metadata Usage (text)
- CC0
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/vk701a34367-308d-4eda-aa96-e9b2ee6df32c
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