Torso

William Zorach, Torso, 1932, granite, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Sara Roby Foundation, 1986.6.85
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
Subjects
  • 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).

Works by this artist (61 items)

James Castle, Untitled, ca. 1952, found paper, soot, and color of unknown origin, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the James Castle Collection and Archive and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2013.27.47
Untitled
Dateca. 1952
found paper, soot, and color of unknown origin
On view
James Castle, Untitled, ca. 1931-1977, found paper and soot, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the James Castle Collection and Archive and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment

, 2013.27.30
Untitled
Dateca. 1931-1977
found paper and soot
On view
James Castle, Untitled, ca. 1931-1977, found paper and soot, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the James Castle Collection and Archive and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2013.27.27
Untitled
Dateca. 1931-1977
found paper and soot
On view
James Castle, Untitled, ca. 1931-1977, found paper and soot, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the James Castle Collection and Archive and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2013.27.29
Untitled
Dateca. 1931-1977
found paper and soot
Not on view

More Artworks from the Collection

Jean-Michel Basquiat, Untitled, 1982, oil stick and waxed crayon on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Sam Rose and Julie Walters, 2018.16
Untitled
Date1982
oil stick and waxed crayon on paper
Not on view
Jeff Donaldson, Victory in Zimbabwe, 1980, mixed media on cardboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum Purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2019.1, © 2018, Estate of Jeff Donaldson
Victory in Zimbabwe
Date1980
mixed media on cardboard
Not on view
"Prophet" Royal Robertson, Space Gun Drawing, n.d., pencil, marker, paint on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr., 1998.84.30
Space Gun Drawing
Daten.d.
pencil, marker, paint on paper
Not on view
Joseph Cornell, Untitled (Rorschach drawing), n.d., drawing, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation, 1991.155.408
Untitled (Rorschach drawing)
Daten.d.
drawing
Not on view