Nude Descending a Staircase
Paying homage to an art icon, Anton Smit’s “Nude descending a staircase” elevates Duchamp’s 1912 oil painting to a beautifully chaotic, sculptural masterpiece. Smit unites several abstract figures with an explosion of geometric shapes and forms, creating a powerful steelwork, reminiscent of a dream. The nude figure which is so often represented as still and supine is given here an intricate mechanical quality. Much like an object in motion, we are aware of all its sequential movements as the figure seems to move in a sensual dance. This is truly a rare piece, a must-have for any enthusiast, collector, and appreciator!
Smit, whose works are a wonderful embodiment of the African spirit, encapsulates the concept of this magnificent sculpture through a poem in which he writes:
“Fully forth emerging
Pondering themes of love
Into the abyss of dreams”
This work, like many of his others, reflects Anton Smit’s passion for poetic movement, expressive gesture, and the possibilities of the human form in conveying our deepest emotions.
