Untitled

About this artwork.

This work is currently being restored.

The female figure is depicted in a simplified way. The artist has cut away relatively little limestone, so that only vague contours of the lower body are visible, especially at the bottom. 
 
The depiction of human figures and other subjects in simplified and abstracted shapes goes back to the ideas of the German sculptor Adolf von Hildebrand (1847-1921). In the 19th century, it was customary for the sculptor to leave the elaboration of his design to a stonemason. Von Hildebrand acted against that attitude. In his book Das Problem der Form in der bildenden Kunst (The Problem of Form in Visual Art) from 1893, he made a plea for direct chopping in stone, based on a drawing on the block. He also felt that the emphasis should be placed on general shape, in order to arrive at an unspecified type rather than a specific individual. This reformulation of the foundations of sculpture has been of great importance for the development of Dutch 20th century sculpture, among other things. This sculptural approach can also be found in the work of Meesters. Just as with the Sun-Worshipper from the Noorderplantsoen, Meesters also left out the individual characteristics of this female figure, making them universal in their serene appearance.

The sculptor and master craftsman Mattheus Meesters, born in Haren in 1908, received lessons at the M.T.S. school in Groningen at the Department of Applied Arts and Crafts. The famous Groningen artist Willem Valk was his teacher there. Various works of art by Matthew Masters can be found in the city. One of his most famous works is a statue in the Noorderplantsoen, which the artist referred to as Untitled, but which became known as Sun-worshipper (Zonaanbidster).

Facts & Figures.

• Design
  Mattheus Meesters

• District
  Helpman

• Year of creation
  1950

• Art type
  Freestanding sculpture

• Material
  Limestone (euville)

• Dimensions
  h 1,00 m