Sculpture for the Blind (Beginning of the World) 1916

Constantin Brâncuși made this sculpture, "Sculpture for the Blind (Beginning of the World)," out of marble, and its smooth, pale surface speaks to the patient and careful process of its making. The title suggests a sense of touch, and the way we can feel a form and understand it intuitively. The texture of the marble feels cool, solid, and inviting to the touch, and it makes me think about how we perceive the world through different senses. The egg shape is so archetypal, and the way that Brâncuși has refined it is very elegant, without being fussy. There's a quiet perfection to it. When I look at the veining in the stone, it makes me think about Eva Hesse, another sculptor who was interested in organic forms. Both Brâncuși and Hesse have made work that explores the intersection of the natural and the man-made. Ultimately, this is a piece that invites us to slow down, feel, and think about the world around us in a new way.