L'été sans bras 

Aristide Maillol, born in France in 1861, created "L'été sans bras" from bronze, employing the lost-wax casting method, a process tracing back to ancient civilizations. The tactile qualities of the bronze, its weight and density, are palpable. Maillol likely began with a clay or plaster model, painstakingly shaping the figure before creating a mold. Molten bronze would then have been poured into this mold, cooled, and the mold broken away, revealing the sculpture. Finally, the surface would have been worked, patinated to achieve its distinctive greenish-brown hue, and polished. In Maillol's time, bronze casting was entering an industrial era. Yet, his commitment to classical form suggests a preference for the skilled hand, resisting complete industrialization. The labor involved – modeling, molding, casting, and finishing – infuses the work with human effort. The artist’s intervention is evident at every stage, a conscious choice that lends the sculpture its individual character. By considering these material and making processes, we gain a richer understanding of Maillol's artistic vision.