Janus

Sold by Iolas Gallery (Paris, France) to Alexander and Henrietta W. Hollaender (Oak Ridge, TN and Washington, DC); 1987, deposited on long-term loan to Elvehjem Museum of Art [now called Chazen Museum of Art]; 1992, bequeathed to Elvehjem Museum of Art [ now called Chazen Museum of Art]

This dark grey bronze sculpture depicts a stylized standing figure composed of geometric shapes. The figure’s body is a flat, elongated rectangle upon which other body parts are affixed. The oversized head is flat and round, featuring two prominent circular eyes and a small, protruding beak-like mouth. Directly below the head are two symmetrically placed scalloped clam shell forms that embellish the chest. An oval form with a tortoise shell-like incised pattern is centered on the bottom edge of the rectangular body. A small tubular shape hangs beneath this oval, between the figure’s short, columnar legs extending from the sides of the rectangular body. The figure stands on a two-tiered, disk-shaped base. A dark patina on the flat, smooth surfaces of the body and head accentuates the contours and textures of the clam shell and tortoise shell forms.

• Europe
• Sculpture
• Alexander and Henrietta W. Hollaender Collection
• Alt Text Accessible

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