Jacques Lipchitz

Lithuanian-born sculptor Jacques Lipchitz (1891-1973) is usually associated with the early 20th-century Parisian avant-garde, with his friendships with such artists as Picasso and Modigliani and with the Cubist movement, for which his work forms one of the most important sculptural expressions. In reality, his artistic career had several later phases. This video, directed by Bruce Bassett, examines the work of Lipchitz. It was filmed in Northern Italy in the early 1970s while he was at work on public commissions, which he describes as his most exciting projects. His commentary provides details about his working methods and he defines his art not as making abstractions out of living materials but as giving life and warmth to abstract forms.