Hans Josephsohn's solid human forms have a primal or geological ambience due to their formal simplicity, lack of individualistic detail, and imposing scale. His solid, chunky shapes are elemental and generic—and are not to do with narration or individuality—aiming at simplicity and a raw earthy presence. He usually worked from posed models, normally women. The works with a little detail reference early Assyrian, Greek, and Egyptian sculpture, such as Untitled (Ruth) (1969) and Untitled (1993).
Read MoreSometimes the sheer avoidance of overt description or individual particularity, whilst presenting a vaguely lumpy human form and extolling the rudimentary, links Josephsohn's works with very early prehistoric sculpture. Sometimes it is a hunch that tells the first-time viewer the coarsely textured work is based on the human form. Examples include Untitled (1994), Untitled (Verena) (1985), Untitled (Verena) (1987), Untitled (1991).
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