Page 322 - The Legacy of Abraham Rothstein - text
P. 322
Studies: animal
product, still exists, so a comparison can be made. It is not
known whether or not AR derived either satisfaction or
instruction from this exercise. It is very smoothly finished, but
the ears are now chipped. No. 155, although cruder than no.
154, may also have been copied from a store-bought model. It
is unlacquered, and one ear is chipped.
153 Dog
Wood
8” long x 2.25” wide
This canine is carved from a rectangular block, and retains that
outline on the bottom. It lies on its stomach, legs (truncated at
the paws) extended and tail curled up on its back; it is either in
repose or in a playful mood, about to bark and leap up. The
rendition is simple, and the piece is unremarkable—except for
its very close resemblance to the praying Moslem (no. 4)!
165 Cat
Stone
6.125” x 2.5”
Like other of AR’s simple stone carvings (e.g. no. 28), this cat
barely emerges from the block, its limbs and tail tucked tightly
into its body. The result, of course, is completely lifeless and
barely naturalistic. If, as is likely, AR realized at some point that
stone (or, at least, the stone he was limited to using) would not
be an appropriate medium for his work, then this may be a
relatively early piece.
318
