The Dancer

1914

Georg Kolbe German, 1877-1947

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Provenance

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Published References

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Catalogue Raisonné

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Credit Line for Reproduction

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About the Artwork

The Dancer embodies Georg Kolbe’s preoccupation with the human body and movement, which dominated his sculptural output before the World War I. Kolbe was inspired by Vaslav Nijinsky, a ballet dancer and choreographer for the experimental dance company Ballets Russes, who visited the artist’s studio in November 1912. Kolbe experimented with proportions and anatomy of the figure to achieve an expressive result. He created dynamism by calling as much attention to the surrounding space as to the rhythmically articulated limbs and turned torso of the male nude. The dark, impenetrable patina reflects the light, unifying the body into the essence of spirited movement. Dance, especially in its modern form, remained Kolbe’s source of inspiration throughout his career.

Title The Dancer

Artwork Date 1914

Artist Georg Kolbe

Life Dates 1877-1947

Nationality Please note: Definitions for nationality may vary significantly, depending on chronology and world events. Some definitions include: Belonging to a people having a common origin based on a geography and/or descent and/or tradition and/or culture and/or religion and/or language, or sharing membership in a legally defined nation. German

Culture Please note: Cultures may be defined by the language, customs, religious beliefs, social norms, and material traits of a group. ----------

Medium Bronze

Dimensions Overall: 31 5/8 × 17 1/2 × 9 inches (80.3 × 44.5 × 22.9 cm) Overall (sculpture): 25 5/8 × 17 1/2 × 8 5/8 inches (65.1 × 44.5 × 21.9 cm) Overall (base): 6 × 9 5/8 × 5 1/4 inches (15.2 × 24.4 × 13.3 cm)

Classification Sculpture

Department European Modern Art to 1970

Credit Gift of Mrs. George Kamperman in memory of her husband Dr. George Kamperman

Accession Number This unique number is assigned to an individual artwork as part of the cataloguing process at the time of entry into the permanent collection. Most frequently, accession numbers begin with the year in which the artwork entered the museum’s holdings. For example, 2008.3 refers to the year of acquisition and notes that it was the 3rd of that year. The DIA has a few additional systems—no longer assigned—that identify specific donors or museum patronage groups. 64.261

Markings

Signed Signed, on base, beside left foot: G K

Marks Marks: H. NOACK | BERLIN FRIEDENAN

Provenance

1921, possibly (Paul Cassirer, Berlin, Germany);
possibly (Buchholz Gallery, New York, New York);
Dr. and Mrs. George Kamperman (Detroit, Michigan, USA);
1964-present, gift to the Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit, Michigan, USA)

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Exhibition History

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The exhibition history of a number of objects in our collection only begins after their acquisition by the museum, and may reflect an incomplete record.

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Published References

Berger, Ursela. Georg Kolbe: Leben und Wek, Mit dem Katalog der Kolbe-Plastiken im Georg-Kolbe-Museum. Berlin, 1990, cat. no. 23, pp. 228-231 (ill.).

Bulletin of the DIA 44, no. 1, p. 10; pp. 13 and 19 (ill.).

Arts and Crafts in Detroit. Exh. cat., Detroit Institute of Arts. Detroit, 1976, no. 261 (ill.).

Uhr, H. Masterpieces of German Expressionism at the Detroit Institute of Arts. New York, 1982, p. 130 (ill.).

The Influence of Paris: European and American Sculpture 1830-1930. Exh. cat., Detroit Institute of Arts. Detroit, 1981, cat. no. 19, p. 26 (ill.).

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Catalogue Raisoneé

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Credit Line for Reproduction

Georg Kolbe, The Dancer, 1914, bronze. Detroit Institute of Arts, Gift of Mrs. George Kamperman in memory of her husband Dr. George Kamperman, 64.261.