ON VIEW

Artist Henry Moore is regarded as one of the most important British sculptors of the 20th century. Oval with Points is one of several works featuring points that almost touch. Here, two points grow inward from the exterior mass, straining toward each other but failing to meet, creating a dynamic tension. The smooth and sinuous encircling form serves to highlight the dangerous angularity of the points, which divide its interior space into two unequal voids. Though empty space, the relationship between the voids seems to stabilize the sculpture and bring a sense of organic harmony to the forms.

The origins of Oval with Points can be seen in Three Points (1939-1940), which itself can be traced to drawings of the same period. The form, however, also recalls objects from Moore’s collection of natural forms, including a small hollowed-out stone with two points that almost touch and an elephant skull acquired in Kenya by the distinguished biologist Sir Julian Huxley and his wife, Juliette.

Moore cited various sources and influences for his interest in pointed forms, stating, “This pointing has an emotional or physical action in it where things are just about to touch but don’t. There is some anticipation of this action.”