Head of Montserrat, Number 2, 1942
Julio Gonzálezexpand_more
Patinated bronzeexpand_more
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Maslonexpand_more 57.51
Not on Viewexpand_more
"Head of Montserrat, No. 2" is one of several sculptures Gonzàlez created in 1941 and 1942 in response to the horrors of the Spanish civil war (1936-39). Living and working in Paris during the German occupation, Gonzàlez was deeply affected by the events of World War II unfolding around him. Both wars were turning points for him as an artist. His use of figurative forms in the "Montserrat" series marked a departure from his abstract wrought-iron constructions of the 1930s, enabling him to evoke human agony through gesture and expression.
A common first name for girls in the Catalan region of Spain, Montserrat is the name of a holy mountain and monastery site near the artist's native city of Barcelona. During the Spanish civil war, Barcelona was heavily bombed, and the Republicans were defeated in a major battle there in 1938. The anguished expression of this crying woman conveys Gonzàlez's grief at this terrible turn of events.
Details
- Title
- Head of Montserrat, Number 2
- Artist Life
- 1876 - 1942
- Role
- Sculptor
- Accession Number
- 57.51
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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