Tête au miroir 1934

Julio Gonzalez created ‘Tête au miroir’ out of iron, a base of stone. It’s such a tender, yet strong gesture, isn’t it? You can tell Gonzalez was thinking, playing, figuring out the nature of the material as he went along. I imagine Gonzalez in his studio, welding and hammering these dark iron rods. See how they curve so delicately? How the oval mirrors the shape of the arch, almost like a thought bubble. What was he thinking when he made it? Was he considering what the viewer might reflect upon? I imagine the rough, unpolished surface, cool to the touch. Gonzalez was part of a generation that changed sculpture. They were in conversation with Picasso who was also interested in using found objects to make sculpture. The base connects to a very old tradition, as well. There's a real beauty in the exchange of ideas, and seeing how one artist can spark something new in another. I love this piece, it has a certain openness and curiosity to it.