The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of March 28, 2024

Standing Man

Standing Man

1998
(German, b. 1957)
Overall: 259.2 x 58.5 x 45.7 cm (102 1/16 x 23 1/16 x 18 in.)
© Artists Right Society (ARS), New York
Location: not on view

Description

Continuing the centuries-old tradition of German woodcarving, Stephen Balkenhol creates simple, rough-hewn figures with no overtly symbolic or narrative content. Clothed in black pants and white shirt and assuming a relaxed stance with one hand on his hip, the Standing Man is a neutral presence whose face betrays no emotion. Balkenhol has said that he seeks "an expression from which one could imagine all other states of mind. . . ." Both the figure and its pedestal were cut from the same block of wood—a cedar log almost 24 inches in diameter and about 8-1/2 feet long. The soft, reddish-colored wood was shaped with a combination of hand and power tools. Router and chain marks are visible on the base, and marks from flat chisels can be seen on the man's face, hands, shirt, and trousers. The figure and clothing were painted; transparent stains were used to color the hair and the base.
  • Cleveland Museum of Art, “Cleveland Acquires Major New Sculpture, Rare Chinese Prints, Contemporary Prints, Drawings & Photographs,” October 30, 1998, Cleveland Museum of Art Archives. archive.org
    Hinson, Tom E., "Standing Man", Cleveland Museum of Art. Cleveland Art: The Cleveland Museum of Art Members Magazine. Vol. 39 no. 04, April 1999 Mentioned & reproduced: cover, p. 4-5 archive.org
  • Artlens Exhibition 2017. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (June 24, 2017-May 29, 2019).
    "Stephan Balkenhol," The Arts Club of Chicago (April 21 - May 30, 1998).
  • {{cite web|title=Standing Man|url=false|author=Stephan Balkenhol|year=1998|access-date=28 March 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1998.104