Two-Piece Reclining Figure: Points

Two-Piece Reclining Figure: Points is a sculpture by Henry Moore, catalogued as LH 606, and created in 1969-70.^[1]

Editions

It was a bronze edition of 7; the artist's copy ("0/7") is in Kew Gardens in London, loaned by the Henry Moore Foundation^[2] another in the Hofgarten, Düsseldorf (illustrated),^[3] and one at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington D.C.^[4][5] The plaster model is at the Art Gallery of Ontario.^[6] In 2008, an example traveled to the New York Botanical Garden,^[7][8] and the Denver Botanic Gardens.^[9][10]

History

Among Moore's post war abstract bronzes, it is a part of the Two Piece Reclining Figure series.^[11] It can be read as one figure or two.^[12]

I did the first one in two pieces almost without intending to. But after I had done it, then the second one became a conscious idea. I realised what an advantage a separated two- piece composition could have in relating figures to landscape. Knees and breasts are mountains. Once these two parts become separated you don't expect it to be a naturalistic figure; therefore you can justifiably make it look like a landscape or a rock. If it's a single figure, you can guess what it's going to be like. If it's in two pieces there's a bigger surprise, you have more unexpected views; therefore the special advantage over painting--of having the possibility of many different views--is more fully explored. The front view doesn't enable you to foresee the back view. As you move round it, the two parts overlap or they open up and there's space in between.^[13]

Reviews

Gift of Joseph Hirshhorn, 1974

A work like Two Piece Reclining Figure: Points, from 1969, has the feel that Moore aimed at — but didn't always achieve — of form as primal matter.^[14]

See also

• List of public art in Washington, D.C., Ward 2
• Two-Piece Reclining Figure No. 9
• Reclining Figure 1969–70

References

External links

• Bluffton
• DC Memorials
• Big Art Mob

Henry Moore
Sculptures	Reclining Figure 1938 Three Standing Figures 1947 Reclining Figure: Festival King and Queen Draped Reclining Figure, 1952–53 Large Interior Form, 1953-54 Reclining Figure: External Form 1953–1954 Upright Motive No. 1: Glenkiln Cross Seated Woman, 1957 Draped Seated Woman 1957–58 Draped Reclining Woman 1957–58 Knife Edge Two Piece 1962–65 Three-Piece Reclining Figure No. 2: Bridge Prop Man Enters the Cosmos Three-Way Piece: Points Two-Piece Reclining Figure No. 9 Nuclear Energy Spindle Piece Three-Piece No. 3: Vertebrae (Working Model) Three Piece Sculpture: Vertebrae Reclining Figure 1969–70 Two-Piece Reclining Figure: Points Sheep Piece 1971–72 Large Four Piece Reclining Figure 1972–73 Hill Arches 1973 Goslar Warrior 1973–1974 Three-Piece Reclining Figure: Draped 1975 The Arch 1979–1980
Assistants	Anthony Caro Phillip King Richard Wentworth Isaac Witkin
Associated with	Barbara Hepworth
Supporters	Kenneth Clark
Institutions	Henry Moore Foundation