Henri Laurens “Head of a Young Girl” at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice

Sculpture - Terracotta (34.2 x 16.3 cm) 1920

Henri Laurens was born in Paris in 1885 and began drawing lessons in 1899.

Head of a Young Girl Those of Auguste Rodin influenced his first sculptures.

In 1911 he became friends with Georges Braque and turned to Cubism.

In 1915, another turning point in his career, he met Pablo Picasso, Amedeo Modigliani and Juan Gris.

His “Head of a Young Girl” exhibited at the Peggy Guggenheim Museum, which dates back to 1920, perfectly reflects Laurens's Cubist orientation and his relations with Modigliani and Picasso.

It was first a drawing, made in 1917.

It was not until three years later that Laurens decided to resume this subject and make it the sculpture we can see today at Peggy Guggenheim.

A "sweet" sculpture that fits well with the age of its model. A gentle work, but also powerful, perfectly balanced and full of grace.

This stunning work highlights Lauren's talent with choices of curves, axes and volumes linked in superb harmony.

Head of a Young Girl