“Pierced Form,” a sculpture created by Barbara Hepworth in 1932, is a significant work within the Abstract Art movement. As a sculpture, it exemplifies the genre’s departure from representational forms, striving instead to evoke emotion and contemplation through abstract shapes and spaces.
The artwork features an intriguing, amorphous structure rendered from a solid material, with a distinctive smooth finish that captures light and shadow with a compelling interplay. Central to the sculpture is a circular piercing, a void that magnifies the fluidity and dynamism of the piece. The sculpture appears to both anchor itself in space and transcend its materiality, inviting viewers to ponder its forms and the vacuities within. The tactile quality of the sculpted curves encourages a deeper engagement, resonating with Hepworth’s exploration of form, space, and texture within the abstract idiom. The pedestal upon which the artwork stands adds a formal grounding, enhancing its presence and allowing viewers to appreciate its contours from multiple angles.
