Moore, Henry (1898-1986), is considered the greatest English sculptor of the 1900’s. Moore used holes in his work to emphasize its three-dimensional quality. The holes create a sense of mass. Moore associated the openings with “… the mysterious fascination of caves in hillsides and cliffs.”
Much of Moore’s later work is based on the human form. Moore’s bronze Family Group (1949) shows how he simplified his human figures, treating the proportion freely. His figures are composed of flowing convex (curving outward) and concave (curving inward) forms that create rich contrasts of light and dark. A good example is his stone Family Group (1955).
Several of Moore’s later works, such as his Reclining Figure (1965) at Lincoln Center in New York City, are outdoor pieces. These large bronze works combine the human form with cliff or rock formations. His abstract works, which resemble wood or stone objects shaped by natural forces, convey a mysterious quality.
Moore was born on June 30, 1898, in Castleford, near Leeds. He attended the Leeds School of Art and the Royal College of Art in London. As a young sculptor, Moore was inspired by Mexican and African carvings, and his early work shows the simple and monumental quality of such art. Moore died on Aug. 31, 1986.
