Arthur van Schendel (1910-1979) 1931 - 1980

This is Johan G. Wertheim’s sculpture of Arthur van Schendel, made in the Netherlands, we think sometime in the mid-20th century. I like to think of sculpture like this as a kind of drawing, a process of feeling around and finding a form. Look closely, and you can see the marks of Wertheim’s hands all over this portrait. The surface is uneven, with subtle gradations of tone, like a charcoal drawing. Around the eyes, you can see how the artist has worked and reworked the clay, building up the form gradually. There's something so tender about the way the face is sculpted, the quietness and the calm. There is a simplicity to this piece that reminds me of the work of artists like Brancusi, or even some early Giacometti, in its reduction to essentials. It is a great reminder that art isn't about achieving some kind of perfect likeness, but about exploring a subject in a way that reflects how we see and feel.