The artwork, titled “St. Sebastien,” was created by Louise Bourgeois in 2002 in the United States. This sculpture falls under the Confessional Art movement and exemplifies the genre of sculpture. The piece presents a viscerally striking depiction that merges anatomical realism with a deeply personal and emotional narrative.
The artwork portrays a human figure crafted from what appears to be a material mimicking flesh, perhaps felt or some form of fabric, to evoke a textured, almost vulnerable human quality. The figure is pierced through with multiple arrows, recalling the martyrdom of St. Sebastian, yet the form deviates from traditional representations by being modern and abstract in nature. This evokes a sense of both physical and emotional suffering. The base is a simple, flat surface, allowing the figure to stand prominently, with its expressive posture suggesting both agony and resilience. This combination of materials, form, and theme melds to create a powerful statement on the intersections of pain, vulnerability, and endurance.
