Date: c. 1935–1945 Medium:Carved lignum vitae (single-block hardwood) Dimensions:24 × 12 × 9 in.
Description Seated Woman is a powerful early carving by Chaim Gross, executed from a single block of lignum vitae, the densest wood in the world and a hallmark of his 1930s–40s sculptural practice.
The figure sits in a compact, grounded pose, her hand resting against her face in a gesture that feels both contemplative and monumental. The sculpture exemplifies the defining characteristics of Gross’s early work:
– muscular, volumetric carving – sensitive modeling of the female form – a warm, naturally burnished surface achieved through the labor-intensive carving of lignum vitae
Because of the extreme density and interlocked grain of this rare hardwood, works of this scale required extraordinary physical strength and technical mastery. Lignum vitae carvings from this period are considered foundational to Gross’s artistic legacy.
Provenance Lombardo Collection → Velvet Foundation for the Arts (VLAF)
