Female Head, Full Face

Born in Warsaw, sculptor Elie Nadelman developed an early interest in classical statuary that remained evident in his work even as he moved toward Cubsim. He became an important figure of the Parisian avant-garde before emigrating to the United States at the outbreak of World War I and setting up his studio in the Bronx. In this delicate drypoint, approximately 40 curved lines, enhanced with directional shading, are all that Nadelman needed to create the sculptural head and face. The blank eyes are reminiscent of carved marble statuary, while the velvety lines particular to the drypoint medium give the image a satisfyingly tactile presence.