Modern sculpture
Jennifer Figueroa 5-3-04 Art 167 Term Paper Bourdelle’s “Herakles the archer” and Boccioni’s “unique forms of continuity in space” are two very different works upon first glance. However, after a detailed analysis, the differences grow fewer and the similarities become evident. Both of these works display a figure engaged in movement, but each artist chooses a different technique to depict the figure, and its action. Both “unique forms of continuity in space” and “Herakles the archer” are bronze caste. They are both around the same size; a little smaller than life size. Bourdelle’s work stands at about six feet tall (at the top of the bow), and five and a half, or six feet wide. “Unique forms of continuity in space” is about four feet tall, and three feet wide. The size plays a roll in the overall impact of the work. They are large enough to give the sensation that they have weight, but are not so large they are overwhelming. Large works can dwarf people, and make them feel like they are specks through their pure massiveness. Small works don’t carry the physical weight of a large work, so the sensation is not one which is heavy. Bronze is a heavy medium which parallels the weight and volume of each work. Boccioni’s work has bulky forms protruding from the figure, and “Herakles the archer” has a thick, solid body. Although Boccioni’s depiction is fluent, neither of the works give a sensation of weightlessness; both are solid. “Unique forms of continuity in space” is a freestanding figurative sculpture. “Herakles the archer” is also a figurative sculpture, but is placed in a rocky setting as opposed to being freestanding.