Human head 1923

This is Ossip Zadkine's bronze sculpture, “Human Head”. I can imagine Zadkine in his studio, wrestling with the form, subtracting material to reveal a more essential, geometric face. It’s like a mask, but also very modern. The shapes are simplified into planes, catching light and shadow. I feel like the artist is in conversation with Cubism, with its interest in breaking down forms into basic shapes. I wonder if Zadkine was thinking about the weight of history, or the human condition? The eyes are closed, but there is a strong sense of presence. It reminds me of the way that Picasso deconstructed and reassembled the human face, but in three dimensions! You can see how one artist builds upon the ideas of others. Ultimately, I think Zadkine's sculpture is a reminder that art is a conversation, an ongoing exploration of what it means to be human.