Henry Moore’s Reclining Figure: A Study in Form and Symbolism
Henry Moore’s *Reclining Figure* (1938)
Artwork Details
- Artist: Henry Moore (1898-1986)
- Title: *Reclining Figure*
- Year: 1938
- Material: Stone
- Technique: Carved
- Dimensions: 1.32 m
- Location: Tate Gallery, London
- Style: Abstract, Free Style
- Type: Recumbent
- Color: Monochrome
Formal Analysis
The sculpture depicts a woman lying on a horizontal plane, rendered with a SuperFine CIE. A large gap is present beneath the breasts. While some figurative elements remain, the representation is highly stylized. The composition features a clear disproportion, with certain parts emphasized over others. Notably, there is a prominent hole under the breasts. The figure is characterized by rounded, schematic shapes without sharp edges. Voids and holes are a recurring motif in Moore’s work, treated as positive elements that contribute to the sculpture’s multifaceted symbolism.
The predominance of curved lines in both the rounded forms and the voids conveys a sense of calmness and relaxation, reinforced by the horizontal orientation. This horizontality is subtly broken by the figure’s knees, head, and arms, which are joined together to form a unified whole. Moore was a pioneer in using voids to define forms, and in this piece, the large gap plays a crucial role. The volume surrounding the empty space helps to delineate the desired shape, evoking the imagery of a womb.
The stone material is left largely unworked, with visible cracks and fissures, enhancing the sense of monumentality. The central void is enclosed by compact, solid mass, creating a balanced yet asymmetrical composition. Light interacts differently with each part of the sculpture, creating shaded areas that accentuate the rounded, curved forms. Despite the degree of figuration, the simplifications and deformations push the work towards abstraction, amplifying the strength and expressiveness of the forms. Certain parts of the female anatomy are highlighted for their symbolic significance.
Style and Interpretation
This sculpture exemplifies the exploration of new materials and forms in 20th-century sculpture. It showcases a renewed sensitivity to the plastic qualities of the void, giving it equal importance to the surrounding material. In *Reclining Figure*, Moore presents the “Mother” as a refuge from human suffering and a place of peace, a concept he revisited in various materials, including wood, stone, and metal.
The figure bears a resemblance to the Chac-Mool figures of Chichen Itza in the Yucatan, albeit transformed. Moore reinterprets the Mayan warrior as a woman symbolizing fertility. This reclining figure marked the beginning of his mature period, characterized by vigorously swollen, corrugated, perforated, and rounded forms reflecting his favored themes: mothers with children, family groups, and, notably, the recumbent human figure. These themes range from realism to pure abstraction. The rounded shapes evoke the life-giving forces associated with a woman’s ability to nurture new life within her womb. The empty space beneath the breasts suggests a warm, inviting refuge, a “universal mother”—a place of peace and rest, a source of solace from human suffering. It evokes hidden, unknown forces that resonate with the essence of humanity.
Function
The sculpture was intended to decorate a specific space. It also serves to engage the viewer, using curved lines to suggest a connection between the primal forces of nature and the female form.