Three Motives against Wall No. 2 1959

Henry Moore made these three motives against a wall, maybe out of bronze, but that’s just a guess. It's interesting to think about how the piece might've been put together, what the process of making it might have looked like. The texture is rough, full of pits, marks and inconsistencies. It feels like the material was built up slowly in layers, each one leaving its mark. But there is also a real sense of fluidity, in the contours of the head-like forms, that feels alive. The details invite us to imagine the artist’s touch, and the give-and-take between the artist and the medium. Look closely at the surface, and you can see all the subtle variations in tone. There is a beautiful contrast between the smooth, rounded forms and the rough wall behind. It's a reminder that art is always an ongoing dialogue, an exploration of ideas through form and material. It brings to mind for me Rodin’s fragmented figures. Moore is a master of ambiguity, inviting us to bring our own experiences and associations to the work, so that we participate in the meaning-making process.