Running Nymph 1931

Reuben Nakian made this bronze sculpture, Running Nymph, by working with additive and subtractive processes that give the figure its dynamic tension. It reminds me that artmaking is a conversation between intention and accident. The surface is rich with the tactile marks of the artist's hand. You can almost feel the give and take of the material as Nakian shaped the figure. Bronze has this incredible capacity to capture a feeling of weight while also appearing light. The way the nymph's limbs extend outward, there's a sense of unbounded energy. The rough texture of the bronze enhances the feeling of movement, as if the figure is still in the process of emerging. Nakian’s sculptures are similar to Rodin's work in their sensuality and exploration of movement. Just like them, this piece celebrates the beauty of imperfection and the power of suggestion over rigid definition. It embraces the endless possibilities that arise when we allow the material to guide us.