The Drummer, Bronze sculpture at Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington DC, United States.
The Drummer is a bronze sculpture at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C., depicting an upright hare striking a large drum with its front paws. The work was created by artist Barry Flanagan and stands in the museum's outdoor sculpture garden.
Barry Flanagan created this bronze work between 1989 and 1990, a period when contemporary artists were reshaping public sculpture in the United States. The piece is one of seven identical casts distributed across the globe.
The sculpture features a recurring motif in Flanagan's work, showing a hare engaged in a recognizably human activity. The upright posture and drumming gesture give the figure a playful, almost humorous quality that invites viewers to smile.
The sculpture sits in the Hirshhorn Museum's outdoor garden, which offers free admission throughout the year. Visitors can easily view the bronze figure from multiple angles while exploring the garden space.
The bronze casting preserved the imprints of Flanagan's hands from the original clay model, giving the work a grainy, tactile texture that catches the light. These handmade marks on the surface connect viewers to the artist's direct creative process.
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