Coming to America: Lachaise, Laurent, Nadelman, and Zorach, 1914 - 1945

The sculptures of Gaston Lachaise, Robert Laurent, Elie Nadelman and William Zorach embody the vitality and vision of four modern artists who—arriving as immigrants in the United States from the growing turbulence of pre-war Europe—responded to the challenges and excitement of American life with extraordinary creativity. Through over 60 sculptures and a select group of drawings, the exhibition reveals their common artistic sources—ranging from ancient statuary to American popular and folk culture, while at the same time reveling in their stylistic individuality. Coming to America is a rare opportunity to explore the works of four major masters who redefined the expressive qualities of the human form in the modern age.

‍

Pictured below, from left to right:

Robert Laurent, United States, born France, 1890-1970, The Bather, circa 1925, Alabaster, 26 3/4 x 22 1/16 x 13 9/16 inches, Brooklyn Museum, Carll H. de Silver Fund, 35.1009, © Estate of Robert Laurent, Image Courtesy of the Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, N.Y.

Elie Nadelman, United States, born  Poland, 1882-1946, Dancer, 1918, Cherry, mahogany, gesso, stain, and paint, 28 1/4 inches  (height), Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, Hartford, CT, The Philip L. Goodwin Collection, Gift of James L. Goodwin, Henry Sage Goodwin, and Richmond L. Brown, 1958.224 © Estate of Elie Nadelman Photo by Allen Phillips / Wadsworth Atheneum

William Zorach, United States, born Lithuania, 1889-1966, Waterfall, 1917, Butternut, 15 3/4 x 7 1/2 inches, Lent by the Estate of Dr. Samuel and Adele Wolman © Reproduced with permission of the Zorach Collection, LLC Photo by Bruce Scharz