Abduction of Women c. 1916 - 1919

Georg Kolbe made this bronze sculpture, "Abduction of Women," sometime in the first half of the twentieth century. The smooth, almost liquid quality of the bronze is incredible, and it’s clear that Kolbe really understood art-making as a process – it's all about the push and pull. Looking at the way he’s handled the folds of fabric around her legs, you can almost feel the weight and resistance of the material in his hands. It’s not just about representing the scene, but about the physicality of his interaction with the bronze. And the texture! There's a certain tension there, between the smoothness of the skin and the more roughly worked areas that create a play of light and shadow. I love how the way he’s articulated the woman’s arched back, is also echoed in the drapery of the fabric around her legs. It reminds me a little of Rodin, but with a uniquely expressionistic twist. It's a reminder that art is an ongoing conversation, each artist building on what came before while also pushing in new directions.