Stanislav Libenský
Imprint of an Angel I

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Artist Stanislav Libenský(Czech, 1921–2002)Czech, 1921–2002

Artist Jaroslava Brychtová(Czech, 1924–2020)Czech, 1924–2020

CultureCzech

Titles

Imprint of an Angel I

Date1998–1999

MediumCast glass

DimensionsOverall: 92 × 43 1/2 × 17in. (233.7 × 110.5 × 43.2cm)

Credit LineMuseum purchase funded by the estate of Roger Ager, Liberty, Texas; Heller Gallery, New York, NY; Dr. Frances M. Davis Ryan and Neil F. Ryan; Neal and Judi Grossman of Illuminata Gallery; Steve Laedtke; Richard H. Moiel and Katherine S. Poeppel; Barbara and Mark Paull; the Susan Vaughan Foundation; and various other donors

Object number2002.45

Current Location

The Nancy and Rich Kinder Building

Gallery 310

On view

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Department

Decorative Arts, Craft, and Design

Object Type

GLASS

DescriptionCzech artists Stanislav Libenský and Jaroslava Brychtová began exploring the depths and possibilities of glass in the 1950s. Their work is recognized worldwide for elemental strength, purity, and emotional content as well as for demonstrating the tremendous optical and physical properties of glass. For Imprint of an Angel I, the effects of light highlight the “angel,” whose outline or presence is imbued in the glass. The monumental sculpture stands almost 8 feet high and is comprised of three separate tapered forms that stack upon one another. Each section is cast, weighs approximately 300 pounds, and needed to be an exact series of angles and measurements in order for the sculpture to be stable and uniform. Space is defined by the edges of each plane, creating a narrow void within the minimal form. When lit, varying thicknesses of glass throughout the sculpture, along with the central void, provide a changing landscape of transparency, translucency, and opacity.

Provenance[Heller Gallery, New York]; purchased by MFAH, 2002.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks

Etched signatures on the lower right corner: "S. LIBENSKÝ / J BRYCHTOVÁ / 199? 1997"

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

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