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October 18, 2024, to February 23, 2025
Medardo Rosso
Inventing Modern Sculpture
Medardo Rosso
Artist and artisan, art theorist and proto-installation artist, master of high-publicity productions and rival of Auguste Rodin, Medardo Rosso (b. 1858 in Turin, d. 1928 in Milan) was one of the great pioneers of modernism and a figure as extraordinary as he was eccentric.
mumok is dedicating a comprehensive retrospective to the Italian-French artist’s still little-known oeuvre, which will feature about fifty sculptures and a large selection of photographs, photocollages, and drawings. The show thus also ties in with the museum’s earliest collection holdings.
The exhibition delves into a thorough analysis of Rosso’s processual and repetitive approach, with which the artist defied all conventions of traditional sculpture. A concise selection of works by artists directly or indirectly influenced by Rosso further unpack and create a dialogue with Rosso’s equally groundbreaking and hermetic work. The show thus adheres to Rosso’s own artistic practice of not exhibiting alone but always in “conversation” with others.
Artists in dialogue with Medardo Rosso
Giovanni Anselmo / Guillaume Apollinaire / Francis Bacon / Nairy Baghramian / Olga Balema / Phyllida Barlow / Lynda Benglis / Louise Bourgeois / Anton Giulio Bragaglia / Constantin Brâncuși / Eugène Carrière / John Chamberlain / Honoré Daumier / Edgar Degas / Raymond Duchamp-Villon / Luciano Fabro / Loïe Fuller / Isa Genzken / Alberto Giacometti / Robert Gober / David Hammons / Eva Hesse / Jasper Johns / Hans Josephsohn / Ellsworth Kelly / Käthe Kollwitz / Yayoi Kusama / Maria Lassnig / Sherrie Levine / Matthijs Maris / Marisa Merz / Amedeo Modigliani / Robert Morris / Juan Muñoz / Senga Nengudi / Carol Rama / Auguste Rodin / Richard Serra / Georges Seurat / Erin Shirreff / Edward Steichen / Alina Szapocznikow / Paul Thek / Rosemarie Trockel / Hannah Villiger / Andy Warhol / Rebecca Warren / James Welling / Francesca Woodman
The exhibition, which is being organized in close collaboration with the Medardo Rosso Estate, will subsequently travel to Kunstmuseum Basel, where it will be on view from March to August 2025.
Curated by Heike Eipeldauer
Exhibition design: Florian Pumhösl and Walter Kräutler
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01 Rosso
01 Rosso
Medardo Rosso in his studio in Boulevard des Batignolles, 1890
modern print from original glass negative
13 × 17,7 cm
© Archivio Medardo Rosso
Medardo Rosso in his studio in Boulevard des Batignolles, 1890
modern print from original glass negative
13 × 17,7 cm
© Archivio Medardo Rosso
02 Rosso
02 Rosso
Medardo Rosso
Aetas aurea, 1886
Wax over plaster
50 x 48 x 35 cm
Photo: mumok / Markus Wörgötter
Courtesy of Amedeo Porro Fine Arts Lugano/London
Medardo Rosso
Aetas aurea, 1886
Wax over plaster
50 x 48 x 35 cm
Photo: mumok / Markus Wörgötter
Courtesy of Amedeo Porro Fine Arts Lugano/London
03 Rosso
03 Rosso
Medardo Rosso
Aetas aurea, (Detail), 1886
Wax over plaster
50 x 48 x 35 cm
Photo: mumok / Markus Wörgötter
Courtesy of Amedeo Porro Fine Arts Lugano/London
Medardo Rosso
Aetas aurea, (Detail), 1886
Wax over plaster
50 x 48 x 35 cm
Photo: mumok / Markus Wörgötter
Courtesy of Amedeo Porro Fine Arts Lugano/London
04 Rosso
04 Rosso
Medardo Rosso
Ecce Puer, 1960 (1906)
Posthumous bronze casting by Mario Vianello-Chiodo
45 x 33 x 29 cm
mumok – Museum moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Wien, acquired in 1964
Medardo Rosso
Ecce Puer, 1960 (1906)
Posthumous bronze casting by Mario Vianello-Chiodo
45 x 33 x 29 cm
mumok – Museum moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Wien, acquired in 1964
05 Rosso
05 Rosso
Medardo Rosso
Ecce Puer, post 1920 ca. (1906)
Wax over plaster
47 x 34 x 29 cm
Photo: Galleria Russo, Rome
Courtesy: Federico Fabbri, London
Medardo Rosso
Ecce Puer, post 1920 ca. (1906)
Wax over plaster
47 x 34 x 29 cm
Photo: Galleria Russo, Rome
Courtesy: Federico Fabbri, London
06 Rosso
06 Rosso
Medardo Rosso
Ecce Puer in his studio in Boulevard des Batignolles, 1906
Modern print from original glass negative
17.9 x 13 cm
© Archivio Medardo Rosso
Medardo Rosso
Ecce Puer in his studio in Boulevard des Batignolles, 1906
Modern print from original glass negative
17.9 x 13 cm
© Archivio Medardo Rosso
07 Rosso
07 Rosso
Medardo Rosso
Ecce Puer, n.d.
b/w photograph
17,5 x 8,9 cm
Museo Medardo Rosso, Barzio
Medardo Rosso
Ecce Puer, n.d.
b/w photograph
17,5 x 8,9 cm
Museo Medardo Rosso, Barzio
08 Rosso
08 Rosso
Medardo Rosso
Ecce Puer, n.d.
b/w photograph
14,3 x 8,8 cm
Museo Medardo Rosso, Barzio
Medardo Rosso
Ecce Puer, n.d.
b/w photograph
14,3 x 8,8 cm
Museo Medardo Rosso, Barzio
09 Rosso
09 Rosso
Medardo Rosso
Bookmaker, 1902–1903
Bronze
44 x 35 x 36,5 cm
Photo: mumok / Markus Wörgötter
Courtesy of Galleria d'Arte Moderna di Milano
Medardo Rosso
Bookmaker, 1902–1903
Bronze
44 x 35 x 36,5 cm
Photo: mumok / Markus Wörgötter
Courtesy of Galleria d'Arte Moderna di Milano
10 Rosso
10 Rosso
Medardo Rosso
Bookmaker, 1894
Overpainted glass negative
18,8 x 11,9 cm
Museo Medardo Rosso, Barzio
Medardo Rosso
Bookmaker, 1894
Overpainted glass negative
18,8 x 11,9 cm
Museo Medardo Rosso, Barzio
11 Rosso
11 Rosso
Medardo Rosso
Madame X, n.d.
b/w photograph
13,7 x 8,5 cm
Museo Medardo Rosso, Barzio
Medardo Rosso
Madame X, n.d.
b/w photograph
13,7 x 8,5 cm
Museo Medardo Rosso, Barzio
12 Rosso
12 Rosso
Medardo Rosso
Enfant au soleil "Meek", 1918 (1892)
Wax over plaster
37,5 x 26 x 24 cm
Photo: mumok / Markus Wörgötter
Courtesy of Amedeo Porro Fine Arts Lugano/London
Medardo Rosso
Enfant au soleil "Meek", 1918 (1892)
Wax over plaster
37,5 x 26 x 24 cm
Photo: mumok / Markus Wörgötter
Courtesy of Amedeo Porro Fine Arts Lugano/London
13 Rosso
13 Rosso
Medardo Rosso
Enfant au sein, 1910–14
Bronze
50 x 45 x 20 cm
Photo: mumok / Markus Wörgötter
Museo Medardo Rosso, Barzio
Medardo Rosso
Enfant au sein, 1910–14
Bronze
50 x 45 x 20 cm
Photo: mumok / Markus Wörgötter
Museo Medardo Rosso, Barzio
14 Rosso
14 Rosso
Medardo Rosso
Bambino malato, 1895
Plaster
17,5 x 20 x 19,3 cm
Photo: mumok / Markus Wörgötter
Museo Medardo Rosso, Barzio
Medardo Rosso
Bambino malato, 1895
Plaster
17,5 x 20 x 19,3 cm
Photo: mumok / Markus Wörgötter
Museo Medardo Rosso, Barzio
15 Warhol
15 Warhol
Andy Warhol
Optical Car Crash, 1962
Silkscreen ink on canvas
208 x 208,5 cm
Kunstmuseum Basel, Ankauf 1970
Photo: Kunstmuseum Basel
© The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. / Licensed by Bildrecht, Vienna 2024
Andy Warhol
Optical Car Crash, 1962
Silkscreen ink on canvas
208 x 208,5 cm
Kunstmuseum Basel, Ankauf 1970
Photo: Kunstmuseum Basel
© The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. / Licensed by Bildrecht, Vienna 2024
16 Degas
16 Degas
Edgar Degas
Little dancer aged fourteen, 1880-81 (cast made c.1922)
Bronze, fibre
98 x 51 x 51 cm
Sainsbury Centre, UEA, UK
Photo: Pete Huggins
Edgar Degas
Little dancer aged fourteen, 1880-81 (cast made c.1922)
Bronze, fibre
98 x 51 x 51 cm
Sainsbury Centre, UEA, UK
Photo: Pete Huggins
17 Modigliani
17 Modigliani
Amedeo Modigliani
Marie (Marie, fille du peuple), 1918
Oil on canvas
61,2 x 49,8 cm
Courtesy of Kunstmuseum Basel
Amedeo Modigliani
Marie (Marie, fille du peuple), 1918
Oil on canvas
61,2 x 49,8 cm
Courtesy of Kunstmuseum Basel
18 Szapocznikow
18 Szapocznikow
Alina Szapocznikow
Fotorzeźby [Photosculptures], 1971/2007
20 gelatin silver prints and collage with text on paper, (Edition 5/12 + 2 AP)
30 x 24 cm
© ADAGP, Paris. Courtesy The Estate of Alina Szapocznikow / Piotr Stanislawski / Galerie Loevenbruck, Paris / Hauser & Wirth
Alina Szapocznikow
Fotorzeźby [Photosculptures], 1971/2007
20 gelatin silver prints and collage with text on paper, (Edition 5/12 + 2 AP)
30 x 24 cm
© ADAGP, Paris. Courtesy The Estate of Alina Szapocznikow / Piotr Stanislawski / Galerie Loevenbruck, Paris / Hauser & Wirth
20 Exhibition view
20 Exhibition view
Exhibition view: Medardo Rosso. Inventing Modern Sculpture, October 18, 2024 to February 23, 2025
In the foreground:
Medardo Rosso, Madame Noblet, after 1914 (1897), Plaster, Museo Medardo Rosso, Barzio
Medardo Rosso, Madame Noblet, 1897–1898 (1897), Bronze, GAM – Galleria D’Arte Moderna di Milano
Photo: Markus Wörgötter
Exhibition view: Medardo Rosso. Inventing Modern Sculpture, October 18, 2024 to February 23, 2025
In the foreground:
Medardo Rosso, Madame Noblet, after 1914 (1897), Plaster, Museo Medardo Rosso, Barzio
Medardo Rosso, Madame Noblet, 1897–1898 (1897), Bronze, GAM – Galleria D’Arte Moderna di Milano
Photo: Markus Wörgötter
21 Exhibition view
21 Exhibition view
Exhibition view: Medardo Rosso. Inventing Modern Sculpture, October 18, 2024 to February 23, 2025
Louise Bourgeois, Child devoured by kisses, 1999, Private collection, Courtesy of Xavier Hufkens
Eugène Carrière, Elise riant, 1895, Galerie Jocelyn Wolff
Eugène Carrière, Le Sommeil (Jean-René Carrière), 1897, Galerie Jocelyn Wolff
Medardo Rosso, Aetas aurea, ca. 1886, Wax over plaster, Amedeo Porro Fine Arts Lugano/London
Photo: Markus Wörgötter
Exhibition view: Medardo Rosso. Inventing Modern Sculpture, October 18, 2024 to February 23, 2025
Louise Bourgeois, Child devoured by kisses, 1999, Private collection, Courtesy of Xavier Hufkens
Eugène Carrière, Elise riant, 1895, Galerie Jocelyn Wolff
Eugène Carrière, Le Sommeil (Jean-René Carrière), 1897, Galerie Jocelyn Wolff
Medardo Rosso, Aetas aurea, ca. 1886, Wax over plaster, Amedeo Porro Fine Arts Lugano/London
Photo: Markus Wörgötter
22 Exhibition view
22 Exhibition view
Exhibition view: Medardo Rosso. Inventing Modern Sculpture, October 18, 2024 to February 23, 2025
In the foreground:
Edgar Degas, Little dancer aged fourteen, ca. 1922 (1878–1881), Sainsbury Centre, UEA, UK
Vis-à-vis:
Medardo Rosso, Grande Rieuse, 1892 (1891–1892), Plaster, dark painted, Private collection
Medardo Rosso, Grande Rieuse, 1903–1904 (1891–1892), Wax over plaster, GAM – Galleria d’Arte Moderna di Milano
Medardo Rosso, Rieuse, 1894 (1890), Bronze, PCC, Pieter Coray Collection
Photo: Markus Wörgötter
Exhibition view: Medardo Rosso. Inventing Modern Sculpture, October 18, 2024 to February 23, 2025
In the foreground:
Edgar Degas, Little dancer aged fourteen, ca. 1922 (1878–1881), Sainsbury Centre, UEA, UK
Vis-à-vis:
Medardo Rosso, Grande Rieuse, 1892 (1891–1892), Plaster, dark painted, Private collection
Medardo Rosso, Grande Rieuse, 1903–1904 (1891–1892), Wax over plaster, GAM – Galleria d’Arte Moderna di Milano
Medardo Rosso, Rieuse, 1894 (1890), Bronze, PCC, Pieter Coray Collection
Photo: Markus Wörgötter
23 Exhibition view
23 Exhibition view
Exhibition view: Medardo Rosso. Inventing Modern Sculpture, October 18, 2024 to February 23, 2025
Photo: Markus Wörgötter
Exhibition view: Medardo Rosso. Inventing Modern Sculpture, October 18, 2024 to February 23, 2025
Photo: Markus Wörgötter
24 Exhibition view
24 Exhibition view
Exhibition view: Medardo Rosso. Inventing Modern Sculpture, October 18, 2024 to February 23, 2025
Hans Josephsohn, Ohne Titel, 1997, Kesselhaus Josephsohn, St. Gallen
Rosemarie Trockel, O-Sculpture 2, 2012, Private collection / Sprüth Magers, Berlin
Medardo Rosso, Madame Noblet, after 1914 (1897), Plaster, Museo Medardo Rosso, Barzio
Medardo Rosso, Madame Noblet, 1897–1898 (1897), Bronze, GAM – Galleria D’Arte Moderna di Milano
Photo: Markus Wörgötter
Exhibition view: Medardo Rosso. Inventing Modern Sculpture, October 18, 2024 to February 23, 2025
Hans Josephsohn, Ohne Titel, 1997, Kesselhaus Josephsohn, St. Gallen
Rosemarie Trockel, O-Sculpture 2, 2012, Private collection / Sprüth Magers, Berlin
Medardo Rosso, Madame Noblet, after 1914 (1897), Plaster, Museo Medardo Rosso, Barzio
Medardo Rosso, Madame Noblet, 1897–1898 (1897), Bronze, GAM – Galleria D’Arte Moderna di Milano
Photo: Markus Wörgötter
25 Exhibition view
25 Exhibition view
Exhibition view: Medardo Rosso. Inventing Modern Sculpture, October 18, 2024 to February 23, 2025
Photo: Markus Wörgötter
Exhibition view: Medardo Rosso. Inventing Modern Sculpture, October 18, 2024 to February 23, 2025
Photo: Markus Wörgötter
Published on October 7, 2024
© mumok – museum moderner kunst stiftung ludwig wien