Reclining Figure: Festival, Bronze sculpture in Tuileries Garden, France.
Reclining Figure: Festival is a bronze sculpture in the Tuileries Garden depicting an abstracted human form in a horizontal resting position. The work features flowing, curved surfaces that interact with surrounding space, creating a dialogue between the figure and its landscape setting.
Henry Moore created this work in 1951 for the Festival of Britain, marking a turning point when public sculpture gained prominence across post-war Europe. The piece was later relocated to the Tuileries Garden, where it became an established part of the site's art collection.
The sculpture reflects Moore's study of pre-Columbian artistic traditions, especially the Chac Mool figures he encountered at the Trocadero Museum. Visitors can observe these influences in the horizontal posture and organic forms that reimagine the human body in an unconventional way.
The sculpture sits in an open area of the park and is easily accessible, with clear sightlines to the Seine and the Musee de l'Orangerie nearby. Visitors should note that the immediate surroundings are flat and accessible, especially during warmer months when the park sees heavy foot traffic.
The BBC documented Moore's creative process in detail, recording everything from initial sketches to the bronze casting methods he employed. This documentation reveals how the abstract form evolved through several developmental stages before reaching its final appearance.
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