Sylvie 1958

Etienne Hajdu carved "Sylvie" out of stone, and, you know, it’s funny, it doesn't necessarily scream "figure" at first glance, does it? Instead it's more like a series of simplified shapes stacked together. There's a real sense of geometry at play, but with this subtle human element that peeks through. The cool thing about sculpture is you can really get up close and personal. See how Hajdu left these chisel marks visible? It's like he's saying, "Hey, this wasn't just magically formed, it was worked." It adds this real physicality, this sense of labor. And the way the light hits those planes! The stone isn't smooth and polished, it's got texture. This roughness contrasts with the elegant, almost classical, form it takes. Looking at this, I'm reminded of Barbara Hepworth, and her abstract figures. "Sylvie" feels like part of that conversation, this exploration of form and the human condition. Isn't art just the best?