Henry Moore
Art Movement
Henri Moore was a part of the “Modernism” art movement.
Modernism refers to the current period’s (20th century) interest in the different types of new paints,
and materials. Instead of representing what is real, it creates abstractions and fantasies from our expressions
of feelings and ideas. These types of artworks need to be examined to get facts about the artist, their intentions, and their environments, before judging the artwork.
Paul Cezanne is often called the “Father of Modernism”
Impressionism was the first movement to impact the modernism art movement
Because of certain artists such as Van Gogh, Paul Cezanne, Paul Gauguin and Georges Seurat.
Henri Moore is the most important sculptor of the 20th century and during the post war period he was the
most famous and worldwide celebrated sculptor.
His influences are European modernists such as Picasso, Arp, Brancusi and Giacometti
And with these inspirations he gained a vast knowledge of humanism.
He compared the human body and landscapes to make his sculptures.
Moore’s Characteristics
-Henry Moore made abstractions of the human figure
-Typically mother, child or reclining figures
-Mostly used bronze
-Direct carving
-Explores the concave and convex shapes
-He is a master of drawing and this is reflected on his sketches for his sculptures.
-And includes large gaps in his sculptures to show more three dimensionality.
Reclining Figure, 1951
Family Group 1948-49
This artwork represented the
school’s theme of parental
involvement with education. The
fluid nature of the metal is what
made Henry more comfortable with
the bronze than with using stone.
In this artwork he
not only uses gaps,
but also uses space as a main
aspect of the artwork.
Large Interior Form, 1982
The three holes that are in this
artwork were inspired by pebbles
that Moore had found by the sea.
He used many gaps in this artwork to exaggerate parts of the
human body.