Herma

Man Ray, Herma, 1975, bronze on wood base, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Juliet Man Ray, 1983.105.5
Man Ray, Herma, 1975, bronze on wood base, 14 184 583 18 in. (35.811.77.9 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Juliet Man Ray, 1983.105.5

Artwork Details

Title
Herma
Artist
Date
1975
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
14 184 583 18 in. (35.811.77.9 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of Juliet Man Ray
Mediums
Mediums Description
bronze on wood base
Classifications
Subjects
  • Figure female — nude
  • Abstract
Object Number
1983.105.5

Artwork Description

The distorted figure of Herma was originally carved in 1919 from marble. In Greek mythology, a herma or herm is a primitive fertility statue of the Greek god Hermes. Man Ray emphasized fertility and the female anatomy by exaggerating the woman’s rounded stomach and thighs. The title of this piece and the way the artist chose to carve the figure without complete arms and legs evokes an archaic sculpture that has been ruined by time.

Works by this artist (3 items)

Benjamin West, Mary Hopkinson, ca. 1764, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, George Buchanan Coale Collection, 1926.6.1
Mary Hopkinson
Artist
Dateca. 1764
oil on canvas
On view
Benjamin West, Self-Portrait, 1819, oil on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the U.S. Capitol, 1917.2.3
Self-Portrait
Date1819
oil on paperboard
Not on view
Benjamin West, Helen Brought to Paris, 1776, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase, 1969.33
Helen Brought to Paris
Date1776
oil on canvas
Not on view

More Artworks from the Collection

Oliver Tarbell Eddy, Self-Portrait, ca. 1850, oil on tin, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Ralph and Bobbi Terkowitz, 2019.6.3
Self-Portrait
Dateca. 1850
oil on tin
Not on view
Jacob Maentel, Portrait of Elizabeth Sweitzer Musser, ca. 1826, watercolor and pen and ink on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Ralph and Bobbi Terkowitz, 2019.6.5
Portrait of Elizabeth Sweitzer Musser
Dateca. 1826
watercolor and pen and ink on paper
Not on view
Jacob Maentel, Portrait of Adam Musser, ca. 1822, watercolor and pen and ink on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Ralph and Bobbi Terkowitz, 2019.6.9
Portrait of Adam Musser
Dateca. 1822
watercolor and pen and ink on paper
Not on view
Ammi Phillips, Portrait of Helen (Lena) Ten Broeck, 1834, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Ralph and Bobbi Terkowitz, 2019.6.10
Portrait of Helen (Lena) Ten Broeck
Date1834
oil on canvas
On view