Gaston Lachaise (American, born France, 1882–1935). <em>Standing Woman</em>, 1955–1956. Bronze, 88 1/2 × 44 3/8 × 24 11/16 in., 660 lb. (224.8 × 112.7 × 62.7 cm, 299.37kg). Brooklyn Museum, Frank Sherman Benson Fund, A. Augustus Healy Fund, Alfred T. White Fund, and Museum Collection Fund, 56.69. © artist or artist's estate (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 56.69_front_PS22.jpg)

Gaston Lachaise (American, born France, 1882–1935). Standing Woman, 1955–1956. Bronze, 88 1/2 × 44 3/8 × 24 11/16 in., 660 lb. (224.8 × 112.7 × 62.7 cm, 299.37kg). Brooklyn Museum, Frank Sherman Benson Fund, A. Augustus Healy Fund, Alfred T. White Fund, and Museum Collection Fund, 56.69. © artist or artist's estate (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 56.69_front_PS22.jpg)

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Standing Woman

Gaston Lachaise

American Art

On View: American Art Galleries, 5th Floor, Surface Tension

Even when inspired by a particular individual, representations of the human body can acquire universal meanings. Here, Standing Woman suggests an essential female force and vitality. Beginning in 1912, Gaston Lachaise began modeling standing figures inspired by his voluptuous American lover (and wife by 1917), Isabel Nagle.

Indicative of its greater significance, Lachaise referred to his subject, in all its permutations, simply as “Woman.” Owing to its celebration of female physical abundance, critics attributed to this work and others like it a timelessness and a kinship with prehistoric representations of fertility.

ARTIST Gaston Lachaise, American, born France, 1882–1935

MEDIUM Bronze

DATES 1955–1956

DIMENSIONS 88 1/2 × 44 3/8 × 24 11/16 in., 660 lb. (224.8 × 112.7 × 62.7 cm, 299.37kg) (show scale)

MARKINGS Foundry mark stamped on back edge of base: "MODERN ART FDRY. NY."

SIGNATURE Incised on base behind proper left foot: "G. LACHAISE"

COLLECTIONS American Art

ACCESSION NUMBER 56.69

CREDIT LINE Frank Sherman Benson Fund, A. Augustus Healy Fund, Alfred T. White Fund, and Museum Collection Fund

PROVENANCE By April 1956, acquired by Weyhe Gallery, New York, NY; April 11, 1956, purchased from Weyhe Gallery by the Brooklyn Museum.

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CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Over life-size statue of standing nude woman with exaggerated, bulbous forms and relatively small head; simplified facial features; hands on hips; contrapposto stance on rectangular base Condition: Good

EXHIBITIONS

Toward Joy: New Frameworks for American Art

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in American Art Galleries, 5th Floor, Surface Tension

CAPTION Gaston Lachaise (American, born France, 1882–1935). Standing Woman, 1955–1956. Bronze, 88 1/2 × 44 3/8 × 24 11/16 in., 660 lb. (224.8 × 112.7 × 62.7 cm, 299.37kg). Brooklyn Museum, Frank Sherman Benson Fund, A. Augustus Healy Fund, Alfred T. White Fund, and Museum Collection Fund, 56.69. © artist or artist's estate (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 56.69_front_PS22.jpg)

IMAGE front, 56.69_front_PS22.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2024

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