Draped Seated Woman 1957–58
The Seated (partly also the large sitting or Large seated draped figure called ) is a bronze sculpture by the British sculptor Henry Moore, who had called Draped seated woman. It was erected in 1959 in Wuppertal public space and today is the collection of the Von der Heydt - Museum. After the completion of the renovation of the Schwimmoper she returned there and is now protected from the elements in the entrance hall.
It has the dimensions 188 x 145 x 220 cm and the inventory number KMV 1964-1965/112.
History
For the newly built bathhouse Elberfeld ( " Wuppertal Floating Opera " ) In early 1957, consideration was given to upgrade the front of the building by a plastic. The available budget was 50000-55000 DM These were already several designs of some renowned artists before. Those responsible for the Art Commission decided on 26 February at a meeting ultimately for Henry Moore. They were of the opinion that to the modern architecture of the building best fit his style.
During a brief visit on March 31, 1957, Moore was impressed by the bold architecture of the building and suggested the figure of a seated woman before, which was already present him in the draft. The original sum demanded for the job, which was mediated through the gallery Czwiklitzer, amounted to DM 78,000 This purchase price but could be lowered by negotiating with Moore personally to 50,000 DM. The condition was that it allowed Moore to create two more casts of the bronze sculpture. However, these other casts should not be sold to Germany.
However, five other casts have been made . The cast of the sculpture was made according to the foundry mark on the back of the plastic at Susse Fondeur in Paris. A label at the front above the base is " Moore 1".
To mark the reopening of the former Hall of Fame in Barmen (also called " Barmer House of Art " ), the plastic was presented on October 11, 1958 where it was first publicly. It was in the entrance hall of the House of Youth ( so the official current name ) issued. At its final location before Schwimmoper the pedestal was not completed with the intended five stages, as over the execution of a long time was unclear.
Then the Seated was issued on loan at the documenta II, which took place in Kassel in the summer of 1959. In the catalog of documenta it is presented as follows:
" Large seated female figure On stage in 1957/58 Bronze 155 x 160 City of Wuppertal "
On November 20, 1959, the sculpture returned to Wuppertal and it was placed in front of the Schwimmoper passed on 24 November the public. The public response was negative but, numerous letters to the editor were published in the General-Anzeiger. The protests culminated in the fact that the plastic was tarred and feathered in the night of 5 December 6, 1959. In one left behind at the scene claiming responsibility regretted the actors that no 100 frying pans were made from the "Sit at heart ". In the Wuppertal Carnival 1960 The Seated was discussed, it was referred to there at the carnival parade as a Moore - corpse. Baudezernent Friedrich Hetzelt was so angry that he told them to put to the "Snow White" Seven Dwarfs for their protection added on 1 April 1960.
The end of 1963, the seat end of the Wuppertal Stadtwerke, the law had been the owner of the artwork at the Fine Arts and Museum Association (now " Von der Heydt - Museum " ) away. The condition was that for the plastic, a new location must be sought. Thus the end of 1965 it was decided that they should get their new place at the newly built theater on the main avenue. A reader survey in the General-Anzeiger still resulted in a fifty percent rejection of the occupant. Also in 1966, Carnival was discussed again, it was adapted to majorettes and graced alone three cars. And also the Wuppertal (Coat of Arms ) Lion moved as the " Reclining Figure" at the carnival parade through the valley. The relocation of the sculpture took place in September 1966, in time for the opening of the theater on September 24, instead.
Henry Moore expressed in the 1970s for his work, among other things:
" Moved me most a sculpture that is full-blooded and self-sufficient, full round, that is, the form elements are fully realized and act as contrasting masses ... she is not completely symmetrical, it is static, powerful and vital, it radiates some of the energy and thickness of tailings from ... Plastic should include at first glance quite unclear and hidden meaning. People should have the desire, the sculpture further consideration and think; they should never immediately statements are all about ... "
Meanwhile, the ratio is moderate to the sculpture. So many have come to realize that Wuppertal is one of the few cities that allowed a draped figure to call their own. Today, it is worth many times more, at Christie's achieved a cast of 1998 auction proceeds of more than 570,000 pounds.
The sitting was from 1966 to 1997 on the forecourt of the theater. After then the forum was the Von der Heydt - Museum, she is currently housed in the depot. After between timely information they should after the completion of the renovation of the theater, which should be expected to continue the then planning to 2012, should be placed there again. However, after the reorganization and continued operation of the theater is in danger because of the budgetary situation of the city, the sculpture has found a new place in the entrance hall of the former Schwimmoper after the completion of Schwimmoper remediation.
Copies
The edition of six casts, according to the Henry Moore Foundation: