The Newborn
Constantin Brâncuși
Romanian and French, born Romania. 1876–1957
version I, 1920
A small bronze sculpture in which Brâncuși pares the infant down to a polished, egg-like essence, seeking the spiritual and formal purity at the heart of a newborn.
Its gleaming, ovoid surface catches the light like a warm shell, while a flattened circular plane and a single curled nub subtly imply a head and folded features, creating a feeling of intimate presence and mystery.
By stripping the figure to an elemental symbol, The Newborn marks modernist sculpture's shift from detailed representation to distilled form, showing how a few simple shapes can convey life and emotional resonance.
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
5 3/4 x 8 1/4 x 5 3/4" (14.6 x 21 x 14.6 cm)
Classification
Department
Credit
Acquired through the Lillie P. Bliss Bequest (by exchange)
Accession
605.1943
Palette
Exhibitions
