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Sleeping Muse

A work made of bronze.
© 2018 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / ADAGP, Paris

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  • A work made of bronze.

Date:

1910

Artist:

Constantin Brancusi
French, born Romania, 1876–1957

About this artwork

Brancusi sculpted his first “sleeping head” in 1907, and within three years had developed the tapered, egg-shaped form seen here, which he initially executed in marble. Placed on its side in an unconventional manner, yet in a way that feels natural to the subject of sleep, the sculpture imparts an essential poetry between the slumbering figure and the unencumbered way Brancusi chose to present its form. On one hand, the absence of a base suggests that the sculpture may have toppled over; on the other hand, it shows the muse in a posture of both physical and metaphorical rest, as if cheek to pillow.

Status

On View, Gallery 391

Department

Modern Art

Artist

Constantin Brancusi

Title

Sleeping Muse

Place

France (Artist's nationality:)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

1910

Medium

Bronze

Dimensions

16.1 × 27.7 × 19.3 cm (6 5/16 × 10 7/8 × 7 9/16 in.)

Credit Line

Arthur Jerome Eddy Memorial Collection

Reference Number

1931.523

Copyright

© 2018 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / ADAGP, Paris

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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