The artwork, titled “Bust,” was created by Alina Szapocznikow in 1967. It belongs to the Nouveau Réalisme art movement and falls under the genre of sculpture.
The sculpture exhibits an intriguing blend of abstract and figurative elements. The base of the artwork takes an irregular, organic form, suggesting the texture and appearance of a natural rock or an abstract anatomical structure. Rising from the base is a slender, elongated stem, at the end of which is a small, finely detailed human-like face. This juxtaposition of a rough, textured base with a smooth, surreal facial element exemplifies Szapocznikow’s innovative approach to materials and forms. The slender stem connecting the two parts adds a delicacy that contrasts starkly with the solid base, highlighting the disparity between the organic and the anthropomorphic. The surreal composition invites contemplation on themes of human fragility, transformation, and the intersection of abstract and realistic representation.
