Torso

William Zorach, Torso, 1932, granite, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Sara Roby Foundation, 1986.6.85
Copied William Zorach, Torso, 1932, granite, 3318 1213 12 in. (83.747.034.3 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Sara Roby Foundation, 1986.6.85

Artwork Details

Title
Torso
Date
1932
Dimensions
3318 1213 12 in. (83.747.034.3 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of the Sara Roby Foundation
Mediums
Mediums Description
granite
Classifications
Keywords
  • Figure female — torso
Object Number
1986.6.85

Artwork Description

William Zorach had a strong interest in the nude female form, which he simplified greatly in his torsos, emphasizing the smooth contours and basic shapes. Although Zorach used similar proportions in many of them, the type of material often determined the form. For example, the extremely hard granite of Torso made it more difficult to carve, resulting in a simpler design than the softer marble of Undaunted (Roberta Tarbell, Catalogue Raisonné of William Zorach’s Carved Sculpture, 1976).