Standing Woman is a strong woman. She does not show herself off to the spectator. It's rather she who observes the world - with watchful eyes. It is obvious although we cannot see them. She has dignity and is in balance with herself. Her beauty comes from within. Is it surprising that Standing Woman is created by a female artist?
Courage and strength
Astrid Noack is unique in the Danish history of art. She was one of the first women to qualify as a sculptor in Denmark, and in the 1920s she left for Paris to gain further education and gather inspiration. Like her male colleagues. She was herself a "standing woman" who took issue with conventional gender roles.
Without noise
Noack created sculptures of people. Mostly women and children. Her figures do not tell stories. She is more preoccupied with the forms and lines of the sculpture and worked with very few instruments. In Standing Woman the only sign of movement is the foot position and the folded hands that are staggered from the axis of the body and therefore create a small twist of the upper body. Otherwise everything is calm. Even the surface of the body is in balance. No variations or nuances. Not even in the transition between skin and hair.
Seen with modern eyes the sculpture appears completely immovable. Maybe even boring. We are used to flickering and high speed. But perhaps that is exactly the strength of the sculpture - its tranquillity and stability. Can you feel it?
Trine Moeller Madsen is a writer on art and cultural affairs and an author. Among her works is "KUNST" ("Art") (Gyldendal, 2004), a textbook on image analysis for the oldest students in the Danish Folkeskole.
Standing Woman, 1941. Teaktræ, højde 156 cm. Göteborg Kunstmuseum. Photo: Lars Noord