Elegance

Heinz Warneke, Elegance, ca. 1927, marble, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Julia Bretzman, 1972.171
Heinz Warneke, Elegance, ca. 1927, marble, 178 147 78 in. (43.121.019.9 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Julia Bretzman, 1972.171

Artwork Details

Title
Elegance
Date
ca. 1927
Dimensions
178 147 78 in. (43.121.019.9 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of Julia Bretzman
Mediums
Mediums Description
marble
Classifications
Subjects
  • Animal — cat
Object Number
1972.171

Artwork Description

In Elegance, Heinz Warneke captures the proud nature of the domestic cat. The highly polished surface of the sculpture accentuates the solid yet graceful posture of the alert feline. The simple, abstract rendering is characteristic of the artist's direct carving technique, an attribute of much of his work produced in Paris between 1927 and 1932. The regal and stylized quality reflects Warneke's interest in ancient Egyptian sculpture, of which he commented, "It satisfies my desire for a brief strong statement—yet free from any coarseness of treatment. Each line and form is sensitively felt without the slightest loss of definiteness" (Heinz Warneke, quoted in Parnassus, February 1941).

Works by this artist (7 items)

Heinz Warneke, Elegance, ca. 1927, marble, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Julia Bretzman, 1972.171
Elegance
Dateca. 1927
marble
On view
Heinz Warneke, Wild Boars, ca. 1931, marble, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Heinz Warneke, 1993.44.1
Wild Boars
Dateca. 1931
marble
On view
Heinz Warneke, Boars (Two), n.d., pencil on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Heinz Warneke, 1993.44.3
Boars (Two)
Daten.d.
pencil on paper
Not on view
Heinz Warneke, Boars (Three Heads), n.d., pencil on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Heinz Warneke, 1993.44.2
Boars (Three Heads)
Daten.d.
pencil on paper
Not on view

More Artworks from the Collection

Philip Pavia, Amazon on Horseback, 1965, marble, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. David K. Anderson, Martha Jackson Memorial Collection, 1980.137.86
Amazon on Horseback
Date1965
marble
Not on view
Paul Manship, Susanna (#1), 1948, marble, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Paul Manship, 1966.47.1
Susanna (#1)
Date1948
marble
On view
Jean de Marco, Eve, 1940, marble, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Clara Fasano, 1968.131
Eve
Date1940
marble
Not on view
Paul Manship, Study for Venus Anadyomene, 1924, bronze on marble base, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Paul Manship, 1966.47.57
Study for Venus Anadyomene
Date1924
bronze on marble base
On view