Love

Describe

In this sculpture a woman is clutching the body and hand of a male angel, as if she can't bear to part with him. In the hair of the figures there are delicate curling lines with significant texture. On the same note, texture is apparent in the flowing cloth falling off of the woman's body, and there is a smooth texture in the fugues' skin. The sculpture is elegantly carved, and the placement of the figure's limbs are delicate. Abstract lines are used throughout the piece. Shape wise, the people are organic and complex, there are invented shapes in the wings of the angel and the faces of the people.

Analyze

This piece of artwork is completely the sculpture itself, so the one thing dominating it is the figures carved from the stone. When you look at this sculpture your eyes are immediately drawn to the face of the angel, down his body to the face of the woman, and then up her arm to where her hand is grasping his as she kneels at his feet. The texture in the wings, hair, and cloth provide the art with visual interest, it draws your eyes to certain features. The way the bodies of the people are positioned (the angel leaning to the right, and the woman's body taking up the left) bring balance to the sculpture. As for repetition, there really isn't any except for the lines in the hair and cloth, and the shapes in the wings.

Interpret

To me, this piece expresses the want for love from someone you can't have. The way the woman is on her knees clutching the angel conveys her desire for him. The fact that the man is an angel could convey that he is out of her reach, out of her league, she can't have him, he is above her. The way he looks down at her with a relaxed and slightly caring expression shows that he is sympathetic but knows they weren't meant to be. As for the quality of the work, it is very nicely made. The carvings are clean and elegant and the anatomy of the figures is accurate, and it's overall just flat out beautiful.

Amor och Pske by Johan Tobias Sergel