Yale Center for British Art

Creator:
Henry Moore, 1898–1986, British
Title:
Working Model for a Two Piece Reclining Figure: Cut
Date:
1979
Materials & Techniques:
Bronze
Dimensions:
Overall: 33 x 37 1/2 x 17 3/8 inches (83.8 x 95.3 x 44.1 cm)
Credit Line:
Yale Center for British Art, Gift of Gail and Michael Klebanoff in honor of Arthur M. Klebanoff, Yale BA 1969, and Susan J. Klebanoff, Yale BA 1974
Copyright Status:
© Estate of the Artist
Accession Number:
B2009.4
Gallery Label:
The Pritzker Architecture Prize was established in 1979 by Jay and Cindy Pritzker and is awarded annually to a living architect whose work "demonstrates a combination of those qualities of talent, vision and commitment, which has produced consistent and significant contributions to humanity and the built environment through the art of architecture." The first nine recipients of the award—who included Philip Johnson and I. M. Pei—also received a limited edition cast of this sculpture by Henry Moore. In 1962, Moore reflected upon his decision to break the reclining figure into two: "Once these two parts become separated you don’t expect it to be a naturalistic figure; therefore, you can justifiably make it like a landscape or a rock. If it is a single figure, you can guess what it’s going to be like. If it is in two pieces, there’s a bigger surprise." --- Gallery label for installation of YCBA collection, 2020