The Rock Drill 1914

Jacob Epstein made The Rock Drill, and well, it’s hard to put a date on it exactly, but it's a piece that really embodies process. The surface of this sculpture isn’t smooth, it’s broken up by all these sharp angles and planes. Looking at it, it's all about the tension between the machine-like exterior and the more vulnerable, almost fetal form, nestled inside. The metallic green colour gives it this kind of cold, industrial feel, yet when you get up close you see the imperfections in the bronze, the little variations in tone, which hint at the human hand. Take a look at the way the drill is positioned, thrusting forward, it's aggressive, but also seems kind of vulnerable with its rigid stance. Epstein reminds me a little of Umberto Boccioni and his sculptures like Unique Forms of Continuity in Space, they both were fascinated by capturing movement and energy. Ultimately, The Rock Drill is a bit of a puzzle, it's less about answers and more about the questions it raises.