The Solitude of the Soul - Lorado Taft

Friends of American Art Collection

"The Solitude of the Soul" by Lorado Taft (Modeled in plaster 1901; sculpted in marble 1914) Marble.

Commentary

"The Solitude of the Soul" by Lorado Taft (Modeled in plaster 1901; sculpted in marble 1914) invites a close look at how form and feeling work together. Because the work is spatial, changes in viewpoint and l ight can noticeably alter its emotional impact. Themes to notice include sculpture. This piece is held in the source collection's Arts of the Americas collection. Lorado Taft is the artist behind this work. A useful anchor for reading the piece: Lorado Taft (American, 1860–1936). The work is cataloged within a Chicago cultural context. How to look at this work: It is cataloged as sculpture, which gives a clue to how the museum frames the object. Its medium (Marble) affects texture, durability, and how detail reads at different distances. Its listed dimensions (231.2 × 129.6 × 105.5 cm (91 × 51 × 41 1/2 in.)) suggest how intimate or monumental it may feel in person. Subject cues from the catalog include sculpture. Compare this reading with the museum record at the source collection: https://www.artic.edu/artworks/70466

Sources: Art Institute of Chicago; Art Institute of Chicago / Public Records; Art Institute of Chicago Collection Data