Bessie Stough Callender, Falcon, 1937, marble, 14 1⁄8 x 5 7⁄8 x 6 5⁄8 in. (35.8 x 15.0 x 18.8 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Harold Callender, 1960.8.2
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Artwork Details
- Title
- Falcon
- Artist
- Date
- 1937
- Location
- Dimensions
- 14 1⁄8 x 5 7⁄8 x 6 5⁄8 in. (35.8 x 15.0 x 18.8 cm.)
- Credit Line
- Bequest of Harold Callender
- Mediums
- Mediums Description
- marble
- Classifications
- Subjects
- Animal — bird — falcon
- Object Number
- 1960.8.2
Artwork Description
In Falcon the smooth, sloping lines of the bird contrast with the rough bulk of the base, which retains the original texture of the marble. The falcon’s expression is alert and inquisitive. Something seems to have caught his eye, and he is poised to attack or flee. His form is tense and energetic like his face, and his body rises out of the stone as if he may take flight at any moment. The sculpture conveys the animal’s primal instinct at its peak.