Barbara Hepworth with UN sculpture Single Form
I’ve included these two images from books in my own collection, because they illustrate how internationally important Barbara Hepworth was as a sculptor (at a time when all the major protagonists were men), and also to illustrate the sheer scale of some of her work.
Take a close look at that photograph of Hepworth standing beside her prototype of “Single Form” at the foundry in London. This particular sculpture is important because it was commissioned by the United Nations to remember the work of the late, and some would say the greatest Secretary General of the UN, Dag Hammarskjöld (1905-1961). He was killed in a plane crash in Africa on a UN Mission. Hammarskjöld was also a mystic, and in his collection of spiritual writing and reflections, Markings (released after his death), Barbara Hepworth’s sculpture is pictured on the cover.
So who was Barbara Hepworth? The short answer is, one of the greatest sculptors of the 20th century, and a truly innovative Modernist artist. She was born in Wakefield, Yorkshire in 1903, and at school her artistic talents were recognised quickly, so she was able to take more art classes rather than participating in sports. In 1920 she spent a year at the Leeds School of Arts, where one of her classmates was Henry Moore (1898-1986). Moore’s artistic reputation doesn’t need me to go into details here, except to say some of the sculptural innovations attributed to him, were in fact pioneered by Hepworth. For example, she became the first sculptor to put the hole in sculpture (when you see some of her work this will become obvious).
After Leeds, Hepworth won a scholarship to the prestigious Royal College of Art in London in 1921. She received her Diploma from the RCA in 1924 and was already beginning to make an impact. As her work developed she gained equal facility in carving wood and stone, and also molded in bronze. After a short marriage to a fellow sculptor, John Skeaping (1901-1980), she met the love of her life, painter Ben Nicholson (1894-1982). At the start of WW2 Hepworth and Nicholson went to live in St Ives, Cornwell, and she was to remain there for the rest of her life. Inspired by the rugged seascapes of Cornwell, Hepworth started to develop a very clear philosophy of art. Though her work was abstract, it was inspired by nature.
During the 1950s she travelled to Greece and the Aegean Islands, and was most impressed with the ancient religious centre at Delphi. There is no doubt this ancient Greek aesthetic began to work its way into her own art and into the titles of many of her works. She also immersed herself in the local community of St Ives, sponsoring a range of artistic endeavours, so much so that other artists were attracted to Cornwell, preferring the lifestyle to that of large cities like London.
Barbara Hepworth’s large studio with gardens became a real attraction in St Ives, especially as her international reputation grew during the 50s and 60s. Sadly, it was here on the night of May 20, 1975 that Hepworth lit a cigarette in bed. She was also in the habit of taking a sleeping pill, probably because her mind was so filled with the busyness of projects and ideas. This combination proved deadly, and Hepworth died in the ensuing fire. She was just 72 and still at the peak of her artistic powers.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Hepworth
Barbara Hepworth – 'A New Form for Sculpture' | TateShots
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yv77WKiUxm8
Barbara Hepworth (Full BBC documentary 1961)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIVGkdNn2B8
* These book shots were taken with the Leica D-Lux 7 in natural light.
Barbara Hepworth with UN sculpture Single Form
I’ve included these two images from books in my own collection, because they illustrate how internationally important Barbara Hepworth was as a sculptor (at a time when all the major protagonists were men), and also to illustrate the sheer scale of some of her work.
Take a close look at that photograph of Hepworth standing beside her prototype of “Single Form” at the foundry in London. This particular sculpture is important because it was commissioned by the United Nations to remember the work of the late, and some would say the greatest Secretary General of the UN, Dag Hammarskjöld (1905-1961). He was killed in a plane crash in Africa on a UN Mission. Hammarskjöld was also a mystic, and in his collection of spiritual writing and reflections, Markings (released after his death), Barbara Hepworth’s sculpture is pictured on the cover.
So who was Barbara Hepworth? The short answer is, one of the greatest sculptors of the 20th century, and a truly innovative Modernist artist. She was born in Wakefield, Yorkshire in 1903, and at school her artistic talents were recognised quickly, so she was able to take more art classes rather than participating in sports. In 1920 she spent a year at the Leeds School of Arts, where one of her classmates was Henry Moore (1898-1986). Moore’s artistic reputation doesn’t need me to go into details here, except to say some of the sculptural innovations attributed to him, were in fact pioneered by Hepworth. For example, she became the first sculptor to put the hole in sculpture (when you see some of her work this will become obvious).
After Leeds, Hepworth won a scholarship to the prestigious Royal College of Art in London in 1921. She received her Diploma from the RCA in 1924 and was already beginning to make an impact. As her work developed she gained equal facility in carving wood and stone, and also molded in bronze. After a short marriage to a fellow sculptor, John Skeaping (1901-1980), she met the love of her life, painter Ben Nicholson (1894-1982). At the start of WW2 Hepworth and Nicholson went to live in St Ives, Cornwell, and she was to remain there for the rest of her life. Inspired by the rugged seascapes of Cornwell, Hepworth started to develop a very clear philosophy of art. Though her work was abstract, it was inspired by nature.
During the 1950s she travelled to Greece and the Aegean Islands, and was most impressed with the ancient religious centre at Delphi. There is no doubt this ancient Greek aesthetic began to work its way into her own art and into the titles of many of her works. She also immersed herself in the local community of St Ives, sponsoring a range of artistic endeavours, so much so that other artists were attracted to Cornwell, preferring the lifestyle to that of large cities like London.
Barbara Hepworth’s large studio with gardens became a real attraction in St Ives, especially as her international reputation grew during the 50s and 60s. Sadly, it was here on the night of May 20, 1975 that Hepworth lit a cigarette in bed. She was also in the habit of taking a sleeping pill, probably because her mind was so filled with the busyness of projects and ideas. This combination proved deadly, and Hepworth died in the ensuing fire. She was just 72 and still at the peak of her artistic powers.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Hepworth
Barbara Hepworth – 'A New Form for Sculpture' | TateShots
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yv77WKiUxm8
Barbara Hepworth (Full BBC documentary 1961)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIVGkdNn2B8
* These book shots were taken with the Leica D-Lux 7 in natural light.