The sculpture known as The Destroyed City, created between 1951 and 1953, serves as a haunting memorial to the 1940 aerial bombardment of Rotterdam. This work, portraying a figure devoid of a heart, stands as a testament to the aesthetic evolution of Ossip Zadkine, a creator who navigated through multiple continents and shifting artistic movements throughout his long career.
Early Development and Migration
During his residency in Sunderland, he acquired foundational skills in woodworking and masonry under the guidance of his uncle. By 1910, he had relocated to Paris, where he engaged with the local creative scene at La Ruche. His formal training included periods at the Chelsea College of Art and Design, the University of Westminster, and the Beaux-Arts de Paris.
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While initially aligning himself with the Cubist movement during the early 20th century, the artist eventually diverged to establish a distinct personal idiom. His mature work incorporated stylistic elements derived from Greek and African traditions. Beyond his primary focus on sculpture, he was an active painter, illustrator, and printmaker. He received the 1950 Venice Biennale sculpture prize and the 1961 Grand Prix National des Arts for his contributions to the field.
Teaching and Academic Influence
The artist maintained a prolific career as an educator, sharing his expertise at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière and the Black Mountain College. He was known for encouraging students to abandon rigid academic constraints in favor of a more expressive and lyrical approach. His pedagogical impact extended across international borders, and he held membership in the Koninklijke Vlaamse Academie van België voor Wetenschappen en Kunsten.
Legacy and Institutional Preservation
Following his death in 1967 in Paris, the artist was interred at the Montparnasse Cemetery. His commitment to the medium is preserved today through the Musée Zadkine in Paris, located in his former home and studio. An additional site dedicated to his work exists in the village of Les Arques, where he had previously resided and completed several significant carvings. His works remain represented in collections ranging from the Tate Gallery to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
Fast facts
- Born: 1888, Vitebsk, Russia
- Died: 1967, Paris, France
- Movement: Cubism
- Education: Beaux-Arts de Paris, Chelsea College of Art and Design
- Notable Works: François Mauriac, La Force atomique, Le Poète
- Burial Site: Montparnasse Cemetery
- Citizenship: Russian Empire, France
- Occupations: Sculptor, painter, printmaker, teacher
Questions readers ask
What is Ossip Zadkine's most recognized sculpture?
His most recognized work is The Destroyed City, a 1951–1953 memorial commemorating the 1940 destruction of Rotterdam.
Where can the work of Ossip Zadkine be viewed today?
His work is housed in various global collections, including the Tate Gallery, the National Gallery of Art, and specifically at the Musée Zadkine in both Paris and Les Arques.
Achievements
- Notable work: François Mauriac
- Notable work: La Force atomique
- Notable work: Le Poète
- Movement: cubism
