Animal Woman (Tierfrau)

Mediums: bronze.
Location: The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York (the USA).

An example of Beuys’ early work is the time when he was closely associated with his teacher E. Matare and worked at his workshop. The sculptor emphasized the fetishistic nature of the image, dramatically enhanced sexual characteristics, especially the hips and chest. This corresponded to the type of natural images that his mentor preferred. A primitive nude woman surrounded by animals is a repeating motive of Beuys’ works in the late 1940s. In the future, the artist’s work was concentrated around one topic: a call for a change in thinking that comes from technological advances but from personal understanding.