The artwork titled “The Machine-Gunneress in a State of Grace” is a sculpture created by the artist Hans Bellmer in the year 1937. Executed in the mediums of wood and metal, this piece is an embodiment of the Surrealism movement and is currently housed in the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City, NY, US.
The sculpture showcases an intriguing composition of abstracted and surreal forms that evoke a sense of mechanized organicity. The structure comprises various wooden and metal elements integrated to form a figure with bulbous, almost humanoid forms that are smoothly rendered and juxtaposed with articulated mechanical joints. The sculpture’s meticulous craftsmanship and unique combination of materials reflect Bellmer’s fascination with the interplay between the human body and mechanical constructs, a recurring theme in his work. The minimalistic base on which the piece stands further enhances its presence, allowing viewers to focus on the complex and evocative forms of the machine-gunneress. The overall aesthetic and thematic undertones of the sculpture place it firmly within the canon of Surrealist art, echoing the movement’s exploration of dream-like realities and the unconscious mind.