Aristide Maillol, Torso of the Monument to Blanqui, 1905 From
the Tate Gallery: This sculpture derives from a full-length
statue made as a memorial for the French socialist Louis-Auguste
Blanqui. Because Blanqui spent much of his life imprisoned for
his revolutionary activities, the complete monument showed a
woman in chains. Maillol later reworked the figure to make this
torso. In this fragmentary form it echoes the classical heritage
of Greek art, and by extension the qualities of purity, energy
and democratic freedom associated with ancient Athens and with
Blanqui’s struggle.