F. E. McWilliam Irish, 1909-1992
Horizontal Figure, 1961
bronze with brown patina
33 x 22 x 13 cm
13 x 8 5/8 x 5 1/8 in
13 x 8 5/8 x 5 1/8 in
signed with initials and numbered, from the edition of 5
Horizonal Figure is from McWilliam's series exploring variations of the reclining figure which led to an exhibition at Waddington Gallery in 1963. Bodies poised in mid motion with the extremities...
Horizonal Figure is from McWilliam's series exploring variations of the reclining figure which led to an exhibition at Waddington Gallery in 1963. Bodies poised in mid motion with the extremities lightly touching the surface on which it is placed juxtaposed with sharp angular lines focusing the viewer on the negative space created by the shapes and the light that shines through. This series of reclining figures evolved into large-scale figures such as Hampstead Figure, 1964 and Puy de Dome Figure, 1962. Roland Penrose published the first monograph on the artist in 1964 and was described by Penrose as 'an inventor of styles.' McWilliam shares the avant-garde platform with Moore and Hepworth,. 'We're fiction makers, but the trick is not to go away from this world but to make something just a little bit different. That's where the mystery comes in.' McWilliam in conversation with T.P. Flanagan, 1981
Literature
D. Ferran & V. Holman, 'The Sculpture of F.E. McWilliam', Lund Humphries in association with the Henry Moore Foundation, Farnham, 2012, p. 134, no. 234 (not illustrated)Roland Penrose, 'McWilliam', Alec Tiranti Ltd., London, 1964, illus. pl. 99 and 100
