Birth, wooden bed panel 1894

Georges Lacombe carved this wooden bed panel, titled "Birth," around the turn of the twentieth century. Wood is a humble material, and the artist has clearly relished its inherent qualities. Notice how the grain subtly models the figures, particularly the woman’s flowing hair. Lacombe clearly put considerable labor into this piece. The composition is deeply carved, giving it a sculptural presence. It would have required the use of chisels, gouges, and probably rasps to bring the forms into such high relief. The texture ranges from roughly worked to highly polished, and the wood itself has a warm, honeyed tone. While woodworking has often been considered "craft," Lacombe embraced the medium for its expressive potential. The artwork's raw material and the act of carving become integral to the artwork's meaning, transforming a domestic object into a profound statement about life, death, and renewal. Appreciating these aspects allows us to move beyond traditional distinctions between art and craft.