Life as a Dance [reverse]

1938

Alexander Stirling Calder (designer), Medallic Art Company (manufacturer)

Associated Names
Alexander Stirling Calder

Designer, American, 1870 - 1945

Medallic Art Company

Manufacturer, American, est. 1910 - closed 2016

Alexander Stirling Calder

Designer, American, 1870 - 1945

The sculpture on this medallion depicts three human figures intricately intertwined in a dynamic pose. The central figure appears to be holding onto the two figures on either side. The sculpture is rendered in a golden-brown color, suggesting it is made from a metal like bronze. Surrounding the figures, the raised inscription reads "WITH PLEASURE PAIN AND THE PROTAGONIST." The figures are anatomically detailed and appear to be in motion, skillfully captured in relief on the surface of the medallion.
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Artwork overview

Associated Artworks

The sculpture is a round medallion featuring a mother and child. The mother, positioned in a quasi-sitting stance, holds up a child reaching upwards. Both figures are depicted in a stylized, low-relief form. The material appears to be gold or a gold-like metal, giving it a shiny and reflective surface. The medallion features the engraved text "THE DANCE OF LIFE BEGINS EARLY AND GOES ON" surrounding the figures in a circular form. The image presents the sculpture in sharp focus against a black background.

Life as a Dance [obverse]

Alexander Stirling Calder, Medallic Art Company

1938

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Gift 1938 to the Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, through subscription to the Society of Medalists (Seventeenth Issue); acquired 2015 by the National Gallery of Art.

Associated Names

Inscriptions

across lower center, each letter between the legs of the figures: A S C; below the S: ©; around circumference: WITH PLEASURE PAIN AND THE PROTAGONIST

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