Daphne c. 1910

This small bronze sculpture, titled Daphne, was made by Bessie Potter Vonnoh at some point in her career. I can imagine the artist modelling the soft clay, building up the form bit by bit. I wonder what Vonnoh was thinking when she created this work? Daphne gazes downward, seemingly in thought. Her body is lightly draped in fabric, and her hair flows down her back. The texture has a tactile quality and an organic feel, like the bark of a tree. Vonnoh has used the material to create this illusion of movement and growth. I love the way Daphne's posture tells a story. She isn't confronting us directly, but instead seems introspective, lost in thought. Artists are constantly inspired by one another, building on the ideas and techniques of those who came before. It’s like one big, ongoing conversation, a beautiful and messy exchange across time.