Walking, by Alexander Archipenko

Walking (1912)

This sculpture, made in 1912 by Alexander Archipenko, is constructed out of hydrastone. This piece is intriguing for its mix of angular, geometric, and organic forms that all flow together to create a cohesive piece. The voids in the center create a shape that contrasts against the geometric angles while the organic shapes that move throughout the piece provide the movement from top to bottom. Standing at 27 inches tall, the piece rests on a bulky and rectangular base that separates that provides a foundation for the piece to come out of. The smooth base also contrasts against the implied rough texture that is found on the actual sculpture. Because of the top two forms closing off on each other and there being two main points the sculpture is resting on, the piece takes on an abstract human form - something that might be seen in the Cubism movement. The two right angles that lead to the implied head also appear to create the bulk for the figure providing stability as shoulder blades.

This sculpture is currently featured in the Carnegie Museum of Art.