'Four-Piece Composition: Reclining Figure', Henry Moore OM, CH

Artwork details

Artist

Henry Moore OM, CH (1898‑1986)

Title

Four-Piece Composition: Reclining Figure

Date 1934

MediumCumberland alabaster

Dimensionsobject: 175 x 457 x 203 mm

Collection

Tate

Acquisition Purchased with assistance from the Art Fund 1976

Reference

T02054

On display at Tate Britain

Theme: BP Walk through British Art

Room: 1930

Display caption

This work is carved in alabaster, dug from fields in Cumbria. The bone or stone-like shapes reflect Moore’s interest in organic and inorganic forms, while the incised lines echo both prehistoric stone carving and the work of Pablo Picasso. The individual pieces appear abstract, but also evoke a reclining female body, as Moore explained:

I realised what an advantage a separated... composition could have in relating figures to landscape. Knees and breasts are mountains. Once these... parts become separated you don’t expect it to be a naturalistic figure: therefore you can justifiably make it like a landscape or not.

September 2004