Woman Torso

Date : c. 1925
Dimensions : 54 x 23 x 24 cm
Material : Bronze with light brown patina
Foundry : The Vindevogel foundry

This refined bronze sculpture by Belgian artist Léon Sarteel (1882–1942) presents a female torso with striking sensuality and introspective calm. Cast in bronze with a light brown patina, the piece exemplifies Sarteel’s mature style: a synthesis of classical modelling and symbolist restraint. The soft curvature of the figure, combined with the absence of limbs and head, directs the viewer’s attention entirely to the surface, texture, and quiet emotional presence of the body.

Far from a mere academic study, this Woman Torso evokes timeless ideals of femininity and inner strength. The sculptor achieves a subtle balance between anatomical precision and stylized abstraction, revealing his deep understanding of both form and emotional suggestion. The polished patina enhances the organic warmth of the bronze, while the kneeling posture—reduced to its essentials—invites contemplation rather than overt narrative.

Signed “L. Sarteel” and cast by the Vindevogel foundry in Zwijnaarde (near Ghent), the work stands as a testament to the fruitful collaboration between the sculptor and this prestigious Belgian bronze foundry. The same sculpture is held in the collection of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp (inventory number : 2374), underscoring its significance within Sarteel’s œuvre.

Dated circa 1925, this torso belongs to a period in which Sarteel moved away from romantic realism toward a more intimate and symbolic vocabulary. Like many of his later works, it focuses on the essence of the human form—particularly the female body—as a vessel of serenity, modesty, and quiet dignity. Though devoid of narrative, the piece resonates with emotional depth and formal clarity.

Measuring just over 50 cm in height, this sculpture encapsulates Sarteel’s artistic philosophy: to seek the soul of form through simplicity, balance, and the emotive potential of the human figure.