“Saw Head” is a sculpture created by the artist David Smith in 1933. This piece of artwork is associated with the Abstract Art movement and serves as a representation of Smith’s exploration within the genre of sculpture during this creative period.
The sculpture “Saw Head” combines various metal components assembled in a manner that suggests the rough outline of a human head and neck. At the top, a circular saw blade features prominently, with parts that resemble a face including likely interpretations for eyes, a nose, and potentially a form of mouth or facial contour. The components are not arranged in a realistic representation but rather suggest the abstraction of facial features. Different elements such as gears, handles, and other metallic parts are welded together in a way that implies both a sense of industrial utility and artistic experimentation. The overall patina and rust on the metal give the sculpture a sense of age and texture that speaks to the object’s materiality and history. The artwork might offer interpretations around the themes of the industrial era’s impact on humanity, the relationship between humans and machines, or a commentary on the constructed nature of identity.
