Georg Kolbe: Sculpture 'Young Woman' (1903/04), reduction in bronze

One of his early masterpieces: Georg Kolbe's 'Young Woman'. ars mundi exclusive edition, published in collaboration with the Kunsthalle Bremen. It was his encounters with the artist Louis Tuaillon and the works of Rodin that turned Georg Kolbe (1877-1947) into a sculptor. He had studied painting, but from 1900 onwards he devoted himself primarily to sculpture. From the outset, his nudes differed from those of the academic sculptors of the time. He contrasted the depictions of human beings, which were often frozen into a catalogue of poses, with postures that refer to the new modern dance and appear graceful and natural, especially in the consciously artistic expression of his models. Kolbe's 'Young Woman' from 1903/1904 is one of his early masterpieces. Sculpture in fine bronze, patinated. Cast by hand using the lost wax technique. Directly moulded from the original and reduced in size (reduction). Limited edition of 199 copies, individually numbered and bearing the signature and foundry mark taken from the original. ars mundi exclusive edition, published in collaboration with the Kunsthalle Bremen. With numbered certificate of authenticity and limitation. Size 39.5 x 11 x 16 cm (h/w/d). Weight 4.35 kg. 'I am fascinated by the subtle complexity of this sculpture. On the one hand, Georg Kolbe's female nude appears light and prancing. With her free leg, the implied turn and the head turned away. On the other hand, she appears almost insecure and evasive. The figure thus combines a classical pose with a modern conception of sculpture at the beginning of the 20th century. (Prof. Dr Christoph Grunenberg, Director of the Kunsthalle Bremen)