Woman in Balance c. 20th century

Curator: Gaston Lachaise's small sculpture, "Woman in Balance," housed here at Harvard, appears to be plaster. It’s roughly 33 centimeters tall. What's your impression? Editor: Instantly, I'm reminded of depictions of goddesses, but with a grounded, almost earthy weight to her. It’s a powerful image. Curator: Consider the title—balance. Her pose, while dynamic, also speaks to the constant negotiations women undertake between strength and vulnerability, public and private. Editor: The raised arm, the contrapposto stance, these are age-old visual cues associated with triumph and poise. It will be interesting to know the material and method that Lachaise used for this piece. Curator: Indeed. The choice of plaster, often used for preparatory models, might suggest that Lachaise was interested in the process of making and not necessarily the finished art object. Editor: This piece offers so much to ponder, how cultural archetypes resonate through form and material. Curator: A fascinating tension there, isn’t it? Material versus cultural memory.