L’ orage, 1947, 1948
Germaine Richier
This sculpture, and its companion piece “Hurricane Woman” testify to the atmosphere of violence and destruction which was prevalent in much European art following the Second World War. The pitted and scarred surfaces of the figures, as well as the mutilated facial features, speak eloquently of human suffering. At the same time, the solidity of these personages and their strong expressive presence assert the ultimate survival of humanity despite the legacy of the war. Richier wrote “A form lives to the extent to which it does not withdraw from expression. And we decidedly cannot conceal human expression in the drama of our time”.
