Portrait of Gaston Lachaise, bust-length

Born in Paris, Gaston Lachaise (1882-1935) was said to have made carvings with his father's woodworking tools before he was old enough to attend school. Excelling at his studies, he was destined for a successful career in France when he met and fell in love with the American, Isabel Dutaud Nagle. Lachaise soon gave up his place at the Académie Nationale des Beaux-Arts, and in 1906 moved to Boston to be with Isabel. Described by Art News as the 'greatest American sculptor of his time', Lachaise divided his time between creating incomparable portrait sculpture and making sculpture that reflected his vision of the archetypal form of women. Using Isabel as his inspiration and model, Lachaise created pieces whose sexuality and erotic presence pushed the boundaries of nude figuration.