Weiblicher Torso

Although the »Female Torso« rests on thin, fragile legs, it appears to maintain its balance. At first glance it resembles an archaic fertility symbol with pronounced belly and breasts, which, in contrast to the rutted surface of the legs, are round and smooth. This exploration of an exaggerated womanliness is a theme common to Seitz’s other works, for example his »Large Stele« (1967–68).

However, his »Female Torso« is characterized by a calmer presence. The frail-looking legs allow it to float, as if the powerful body has suddenly become weightless. At the same time, they bear testimony to the artist’s mastery, who routinely played with volumes and masses.

In this late work, Seitz remains faithful to the human figure—his lifelong theme. Like his colleagues Ernst Barlach (1870–1938), Wilhelm Lehmbruck (1881–1919), and Gerhard Marcks (1889–1981), who were of roughly the previous generation, Seitz stands for a German sculptural tradition devoted to the figurative, despite all the abstract tendencies. This is also displayed in his portrait sculptures, in which he immortalized the greats of his time, from Thomas Mann (1875–1955) to Bertolt Brecht (1898–1956).